The evolution of physical diagnosis originating in the Hippocratic school (460-370 BCE) emphasized keen observation through the five senses, laying down the foundation for patient-centered care. Claudius Galen, 500 years later, developed tracts for humoral pathology.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Paduan school marked a new era in physical diagnosis. Andreas Vesalius advanced human anatomy with “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” in 1543 and William Harvey described blood circulation in 1628. In the 17th and 18th centuries, doctors started to distinguish diseases based on symptoms with Thomas Sydenham promoting clinical observation and Herman Boerhavve and Giovanni Batista Morgagni correlating symptoms with organic lesions. 

Vital organ examination remained challenging until the Vienna School led by Leopold Auenbrugger introduced thoracic percussion in 1761 with his “Inventum Novum”. Nicolas Corvisart later popularized percussion firmly establishing percussion as a method of physical diagnosis.

The French Revolution (1794-1848) initiated reforms in hospital administration leading to the influential Paris School. Hospitals were transformed into learning and research centers. Concurrently, Rene Laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816 and subsequently introduced mediate auscultation as the fourth examination method of physical diagnosis through his work in “De l’ Auscultation Mediate”.

Isaias A. Lanzona finished his medical course at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Santo Tomas in 1981. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital. 

He is a fellow of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. He served as a faculty member of the Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Santo Tomas with a professor rank and eventually as Chairman of the Department from 2012-2019. He was awarded the Gawad ng Santo Tomas award as the most outstanding university professor during the academic year 2019-2020 and the most outstanding academician by the Philippine College of Chest Physicians in 2020.