pulmonary examination pulmonary examination the pulmonary examination or respiratory examination is the portion of the physical examination where the physician examines the respiratory system for signs of disease. it is performed as a part of a complete physical examination, or the physician may choose to perform a focused respiratory exam. classically, it is performed after the heent examination, and consists of four stages: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. if there are signs of respiratory disease, the physician may order additional tests including medical imaging, such as a chest x-ray or ct scan, or laboratory tests, such as a complete blood count. pulmonary examinationsynonymsrespiratory examination the information gathered from the physical examination, along with the medical history, is synthesized in order to produce a differential diagnosis and treatment plan.