Physical assessment series: the thorax and the lungs.

The anatomy of the thorax and lungs and the physiology or respiration are complex. The physical assessment techniques which, on the surface, appear relatively easy to master, require hours of practice of observation, palpation, percussion, and auscultation before the examiner becomes familiar with the more subtle changes of disease process and the wide variations of normal that may be confused with illness. These are skills that may be quickly lost if not regularly applied. But perhaps with the use of such techniques, the pharmacist can play an even greater role in the monitoring of drug therapy.