Cotton

For a clinical examination, cotton has several common medical uses. You can write the following in an exam:

Uses of cotton in clinical examination

1. Testing light touch sensation – Gently touch the skin with a cotton wisp to assess intact sensory pathways.
2. Testing corneal reflex – A fine strand of sterile cotton is lightly touched to the cornea to assess the corneal reflex (afferent: CN V1, efferent: CN VII).
3. Applying antiseptics – Used to apply alcohol, povidone-iodine, or other antiseptics before examination or procedures.
4. Cleaning the examination area – Removes debris or secretions before inspection.
5. Applying pressure after capillary blood sampling or injections – Helps achieve hemostasis.
6. Collecting superficial specimens – Sterile cotton swabs can collect samples from the throat, nose, ear, or wound for laboratory testing.

Viva point

• Cotton wisp is specifically used for light touch sensation and corneal reflex testing.
• Always use sterile cotton when there is contact with mucous membranes or wounds.