ABDOMEN Flashcards
The abdomen is divided into how many quadrants?
4
RUQ
liver
gallbladder
duodenum
head of pancreas
R. kidney; adrenal gland
hepatic flexture of colon
part of ascending and transverse colon
RLQ
cecum
appendix
r.ovary and tube
r. ureter
r. spermatic cord
LUQ
stomach
spleen
l.lobe of liver
L.kidney
splenic flexure of colon
part of transverse and descending colon
LLQ
part of descending colon
sigmoid colon
L.ovary and tubes
L.ureter
L. spermatic cord
anorexia
psychological disorder that includes loss of appetite, voluntary starvation, and grave weight loss
dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
occurs with disorders of the throat or esophagus i.e thrust, neurologic changes (stroke) or obstruction (mass or tumor)
pyrosis
heartburn- burning sensation in esophagus and stomach from reflex of gastric acid
eructation
belching
visceral pain
pain from an internal organ (dull, general, poorly localized)
parietal pain
pain from inflammation of overlying peritoneum
(sharp, precisely localized, aggravated by movement)
referred pain
pain from a disorder in another site
i.e. appendicitis, bowel obstruction, perforated organ
melena
black stools from occult blood.. (iron meds)
hematemesis
vomiting blood
pica
eating nonfoods
gray stools occur with
hepatitis
inspection of the abdomen
contour- stand on right side of person & look down at abdomen
stoop or graze abdomen
contour describes the nutritional state and normally ranges from flat to rounded
scaphoid abdomen caves in
protuberant abdomen indicates abdominal distention
symmetry
note any localized bulging, visible mass, or asymmetric shape
hernia-protrusion of the abdominal viscera through abnormal opening in mm wall
umbilicus
midline and inverted normally with
deeply sunken with obesity
enlarged, everted with umbilical hernia
blueish color= intraperitoneal bleeding (cullen sign)
skin
smooth and even, homogeneous color
unexpected findings=
redness with localized inflammation
jaundice
skin glistening and taut with ascites
marked pulsations of aorta occurs with widened pulse pressure (hypertension, aortic insufficiency)
marked visible peristalsis (intestinal obstruction)
striae
stretch marks
inspection
expected findings:
- relaxed
unexpected findings:
-restlessness
-constant turning to find comfort occurs with colicky pain of gastroenteritis or bowel obstruction
-Absolute stillness or resisting
movement could mean pain of
peritonitis
- Knees flexed up, facial grimacing, and
rapid respirations could mean pain.
auscultate bowl sounds and vascular sounds
abnormal bowel sounds
**being at RLQ
hyperactive= high pitched, loud, rushing sounds that signal motility
hypoactive=absent sound (listen for a full 5 min), follow abdominal surgery or with inflammation of the peritoneum
normal bowel sounds= normoactive
- high-pitched gurgling, cascading sounds occurring irregularly anywhere from 5-30 x per min
borborygmus
hyper-peristalsis- stomach growling