Abdomen

Question 1

Solid viscera are those organs that maintain their shape consistently:

Answer 1

liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, ovaries, and uterus

Question 2

The hollow viscera consist of structures that change shape depending on their contents. These include the

Answer 2

stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and bladder.

Question 3

Abdominal pain with cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and lack of energy is often seen in

Answer 3

Crohn’s disease

Question 4

Indigestion (___), often described as heartburn, may be an indication of acute or chronic gastric disorders including hyperacidity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, and stomach cancer.

Answer 4

pyrosis

Question 5

Purple discoloration at the flanks (____) indicates bleeding within the abdominal wall, possibly from trauma to the kidneys, pancreas, or duodenum or from pancreatitis.

Answer 5

Grey-Turner sign

Question 6

Dilated veins may be seen with _____ of the liver, obstruction of the inferior vena cava, portal hypertension, or ascites.

Answer 6

cirrhosis

Question 7

Dilated surface arterioles and capillaries with a central star (____) may be seen with liver disease or portal hypertension.

Answer 7

spider angioma

Question 8

Dark bluish-pink striae are associated with ______.

Answer 8

Cushing’s syndrome

Question 9

A bluish or purple discoloration around the umbilicus (periumbilical ecchymosis) indicates intra-abdominal bleeding.

Answer 9

Cullen’s sign

Question 10

bluish of purplish discoloration on the abdominal flanks.

Answer 10

Grey-Turner’s sign

Question 11

The major causes of abdominal distention are sometimes referred to as the “6 Fs”:

Answer 11

Fat, feces, fetus, fibroids, flatulence, and fluid

Question 12

A _____abdomen may be seen with severe weight loss or cachexia related to starvation or terminal illness.

Answer 12

scaphoid (sunken)

Question 13

bowel sounds that are rushing, tinkling, and high pitched may be abnormal indicating very rapid motility heard in early bowel obstruction, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, or with use of laxatives.

Answer 13

Hyperactive

Question 14

bowel sounds indicate diminished bowel motility. Common causes include paralytic ileus following abdominal surgery, inflammation of the peritoneum, or late bowel obstruction. May also occur in pneumonia.

Answer 14

Hypoactive

Question 15

Absent bowel sounds may be associated with____. High-pitched tinkling and rushes of high-pitched sounds with abdominal cramping usually indicate obstruction.

Answer 15

peritonitis or paralytic ileus

Question 16

Involuntary reflex guarding is serious and reflects

Answer 16

peritoneal irritation