Primary care for women. Comprehensive assessment of the respiratory system.

This article reviews the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and provides techniques for the physical assessment and data collection for common respiratory complaints in women. The pertinent historical, physical examination, and laboratory data for asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, cough, and tuberculosis are also presented. This article is the first of two articles on primary care for women with respiratory complaints; the subsequent article will address primary care management of common respiratory conditions.