Abdomen Flashcards
4 major vascular structures
aorta, renal arteries, iliac arteries, femoral arteries
organs in RLQ
Appendix
organs in RUQ
liver, gallbladder
organs in LUQ
Stomach, spleen
organs in LLQ
Descending colon
hematochezia means
red blood in stool
melena means
black stool
steatorrhea means
fatty stool (floating)
order of abdomen assessment
IAPP, inspection, auscultation, percussion and palpation
scaphoid abdominal profile
abdomen goes inward, caving
rounded abdominal profile
abdomen is rounded, slightly raised
protuberant abdominal profile
abdomen is bulged, pregnant
flat abdominal profile
abdomen is flat, straight line
normal sounds when percussing the abdomen
tympany, drum-like
Where is the costovertebral angle (CVA)
back, over 12th rib
how to assess CVA
indirect/blunt percussion
CVA tenderness means
renal inflammation or disease (kidneys)
where to start auscultation on the abdomen
RLQ, move clockwise
Normoactive (normal) bowel sounds
high pitched gurgles or clicks, 5 - 15 a minute irregularly
hyperactive bowel sounds
loud, rushing, sound, increased frequency
hypoactive bowel sounds
decrease in loudness, tone, and frequency
what do bruits in the abdomen indicate
hepatic cirrhosis
light palpation of the abdomen
1cm deep, looking for tenderness
deep palpation of the abdomen
5-8 cm deep, looking for masses, uses 2 hands
rebound tenderness or blumberg’s sign tests for
peritoneal inflammation
how to asses for rebound tenderness
press deeply, then quickly release. pain when releasing is a positive sign
what is rovsing sign
LLQ palpation causes pain in RLQ
sign of acute appendicitis
pain localizing to RLQ
sign of acute cholecystits (inflamed gallbladder)
localized RUQ pain and jaundice
sign of acute renal colic
severe flank pain, kidney stones, cramping pain
