Abdomen

Question 1

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Answer 1

▪ Liver ▪ Gallbladder ▪ Duodenum
▪ Head of pancreas
▪ Right kidney and adrenal gland
▪ Hepatic flexure of colon
▪ Part of ascending and 
transverse colon

Question 2

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Answer 2

▪ Stomach
▪ Spleen
▪ Left lobe of liver 
▪ Body of pancreas
▪ Left kidney and adrenal gland
▪ Splenic flexure of colon
▪ Part of transverse and descending colon

Question 3

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

Answer 3

▪ Cecum
▪ Appendix
▪ Right ovary and tube
▪ Right ureter ▪ Right spermatic cord

Question 4

Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

Answer 4

▪ Part of descending colon
▪ Sigmoid colon
▪ Left ovary and tube
▪ Left ureter ▪ Left spermatic cord

Question 5

Common causes of constipation

Answer 5

▪ Decreased physical activity
▪ Inadequate intake of water 
▪ Low-fiber diet 
▪ Side effects of medications
▪ Irritable bowel syndrome
▪ Bowel obstruction
▪ Hypothyroidism
▪ Inadequate toilet facilities, that is, difficulty ambulating to toilet may cause person to deliberately 
retain stool until it becomes hard and difficult to pass

Question 6

Inspection of the abdomen

Answer 6

With the client in supine position and on the right side of the bed
--  Inspect the size of the abdomen 
        Symmetrical (umbilicus central)
        Flat
        Concave
        Rounded
         Scaphoid
        Protuberant
        Skin
        Scars ( surgical)
        Rashes lesions
        Skin- striae (striae-gravidarum
        Umbilicus
- Observe for 
       Pulsations 
       Peristalsis 
       Edema 
       Jaundice 
       Pallor
      Ascites

Question 7

Auscultation and percussion of the abdomen

Answer 7

Start at in the RLQ

• Gurgles and clicks should occur every 5-34 minute
• Increased - borborygmic (Stomach growling)
  - Decreased – after surgery (Paralytic ileus)
• -Tinkling sounds ( glass breaking) – bowel obstruction

Listen to bruits

Vascular sounds should also be auscultated on the abdomen which are usually found in the areas of the aorta, renal, iliac and femoral arteries. A friction rub can also be listened for over the liver and spleen

Dull sounds are usually heard over solid structures such as the liver and tympany heard over air filled spaces such as the stomach and intestines. There is also blunt percussion which can be carried out on the kidneys and liver by repositioning the client to sit up and placing a hand flat against the lower right anterior rib cage and whilst using the ulnar side of the other hand, form a fist and strike the hand