Abdomen Flashcards
What are the 4 quadrants of the abdomen
Right upper
Left upper
Right lower
Left lower
Point 2/3 of the way between the umbilicus and the anterior superior illiac spine -> where the appendix sits (on the right side)
McBurney’s point
Where do you palpate the aorta?
Epigastric region around the midline in between the RUQ and LUQ
On what line of the chest does the gallbladder lie?
Right mid-clavicular line
Which renal artery is longer
Right
What are the retroperitoneal organs?
Pancreas Kidneys Ureters Aorta Vena cava
What is the main artery that bleeds during an ulcer
Gastroduodenal artery
What is the correct order to perform the abdominal exam?
Least invasive to most invasive:
Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Protruding belly button
Herniated umbilicus
Stretch marks, red lines on the belly
Striae
Bulging stomach, may be due to ascites
Rotund
Abdominal varicies, part of the hepatic portal, highly indicative of liver failure
Caput Medusa
Stretching of the linea alba leading to rectus separation into two halves; common in premature neonates and in pregnant women
Diastasis Recti
Normal amount of bowel sounds per minute
5-35
Stomach & intestines stopped moving; often result of anesthetics or gall stones; belly becomes rotund because they are trapping air in the GI tract
Ileus
Causes of increased bowel sounds
Gastroenteritis, hunger, early obstruction -
Causes of decreased bowel sounds
Peritonitis, adynamic ileus, late obstruction
What are the expected percussion sounds in the following areas?
- Over most of abdomen?
- Over bladder?
- Over liver?
- Over stomach?
- Over spleen?
- Over most of abdomen if patient is very constipated?
- Over most of abdomen? = Tympanic
- Over bladder? = Flat or dull
- Over liver? = Dull
- Over stomach? = Empty is tympanic; Full is dull
- Over spleen? = Dull
- Over most of abdomen if patient is very constipated? = Dull
Where do you percuss for the spleen
Left axillary line, 10th ICS
What does positive CVA tenderness suggest
Pyelonephritis
What area do you palpate last?
The area in pain
Poorly localized periumbilical pain followed by right lower quadrant pain that is aggravated by any movement or cough
Acute appendicitis
Appendix sits slightly below/behind the secum and is located closer to the rectum
Retro-cecal appendix
Withdrawl pain or pain with any jarring movements
Rebound tenderness
