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Clinical Signs Beginning With P

31 signs in this guide begin with the letter P. Every name links to a page explaining what the sign is, how it is elicited on examination, what a positive finding is associated with, and — for eponyms — who the sign is named after.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y

SignSystemA positive finding is associated with
Palmar erythemaSkin & NailsAssociated with liver disease, pregnancy, an overactive thyroid and rheumatoid arthritis, among other causes.
Palmomental reflexNeurologyA frontal release sign, associated with frontal lobe or diffuse cerebral dysfunction; it can also be seen in some healthy older adults.
Palpable bladderKidney & UrinaryAssociated with urinary retention, classically from prostate enlargement or a blocked catheter.
Palpable spleen tipBlood & LymphAssociated with causes of splenomegaly, including blood cancers, portal hypertension, infections such as malaria and glandular fever, and storage diseases.
Paradoxical breathingChest & BreathingAssociated with a flail chest from multiple rib fractures.
Pasternatsky's signKidney & UrinaryAssociated with inflammation or infection of the kidney, classically acute pyelonephritis, and with obstructing kidney stones.
Pastia's linesGeneral, Eyes & EarsAssociated with scarlet fever, caused by group A streptococcal toxin.
Patellar tapMuscles, Bones & JointsAssociated with a moderate or large effusion inside the knee joint.
PathergySkin & NailsAssociated with Behçet's disease, and also seen in pyoderma gangrenosum and Sweet syndrome.
Payr's signBlood & LymphTraditionally associated with deep vein thrombosis in the leg; unreliable on its own.
Pemberton's signHormones & MetabolismAssociated with a large goitre or mass extending behind the sternum, compressing the veins at the thoracic inlet.
Pericardial friction rubHeart & CirculationAssociated with pericarditis — inflammation of the sac around the heart.
Periorbital oedemaKidney & UrinaryAssociated with nephrotic syndrome, though allergies and other causes are also common.
Periungual telangiectasiaSkin & NailsAssociated with connective tissue diseases, especially dermatomyositis and systemic sclerosis.
Petechiae and purpuraBlood & LymphAssociated with low platelet counts, platelet or clotting disorders, vasculitis, and serious infections such as meningococcal sepsis, where they are an emergency sign.
Phalen's testNeurologyAssociated with carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve at the wrist).
PicaBlood & LymphAssociated with iron deficiency, and also seen in pregnancy and some developmental conditions.
Piskacek's signPregnancy & Women's HealthAssociated with early pregnancy, reflecting the site of implantation.
Pitting oedemaGeneral, Eyes & EarsAssociated with fluid accumulation from many causes — heart failure, kidney and liver disease, venous insufficiency and some medicines among them.
Pivot shift testMuscles, Bones & JointsAssociated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency and anterolateral instability of the knee.
Pratt's signBlood & LymphAssociated with deep vein thrombosis of the leg.
Prehn's signKidney & UrinaryUsed traditionally to help distinguish epididymitis from testicular torsion, though it is unreliable and must never delay urgent assessment of a painful scrotum.
Pretibial myxoedemaSkin & NailsAssociated with Graves' disease (autoimmune thyroid disease), usually alongside thyroid eye disease.
Pronator driftNeurologyAssociated with mild corticospinal (upper motor neuron) weakness of that arm.
PseudoathetosisNeurologyAssociated with severe loss of proprioception (position sense) from dorsal column or parietal lobe lesions.
Psoas signAbdomen & DigestionAssociated with irritation of the psoas muscle by an inflamed retrocaecal appendix, and also with psoas abscess or haematoma.
Puddle signAbdomen & DigestionAssociated with small amounts of ascites too little to detect by shifting dullness.
Pulsus alternansHeart & CirculationAssociated with severe left ventricular systolic failure.
Pulsus bisferiensHeart & CirculationAssociated with aortic valve regurgitation, especially combined with stenosis, and with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
Pulsus paradoxusHeart & CirculationAssociated with cardiac tamponade, and also with severe asthma attacks.
Pursed-lip breathingChest & BreathingA compensatory pattern associated with obstructive lung disease, especially COPD and emphysema.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.