Abdomen 2 Flashcards
How can all visceral structures in the abdominal cavity be surface marked?
- anterior
- lateral
- posterior abdominal wall regions
What areas does the liver occupy?
most of the right hypochondrium and the epigastrium in the upper part of the abdominal cavity
Where is most of the liver under?
under cover of the ribs and costal cartilages
Does the liver move with the diaphragm in respiration?
Yes
What happens to the liver on the right side during quiet respiration?
- upper surface of the liver follows the right dome of the diaphragm and lies at the level of the 5th costal cartilage or the 4th intercostal space (just above the 5th rib) at the midclavicular line
- lower border of the liver closely follows the costal margin (rib cage margin)
What happens to the liver during full inspiration?
anterior (lower margin) of the liver projects just beyond the costal margin on the right side but it is not sufficient enough to be readily palpable
What part of liver would be palpable and when?
only the lower edge of the liver, in some people, may become palpable in deep inspiration along the right costal margin
Why is it not possible to palpate the lower border of liver in the epigastrium?
- Even though lower border of the liver crosses the epigastrium (without the cover of costal cartilages or ribs)
- not possible to palpate the lower border of liver in this region of the abdominal wall, because of strong rectus abdominis muscle
During what conditions does the liver become palpable?
Hepatomegaly (happens in some pathological conditions e.g. congestive heart failure, hepatitis, tumours, cirrhosis)
Where is the liver palpable in these conditions?
ower border of the enlarged liver becomes palpable below the costal margin
Why can you usually palpate the lower border of normal healthy liver in an infant or child?
liver extends below the costal margin to about 1.0 - 3.5 cm
Why is the gallbladder not palpable?
because of its pliable nature
Is the gallbladder palpable if it is enlarged?
No
Where is the fungus of the gallbladder located?
just under the tip of the 9th costal cartilage on the right side
Where does the tip of the 9th costal cartilage lie on the anterior abdominal wall? What can be marked here?
- just below a point at which the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle intersects the costal margin in the transpyloric plane
- Fundus of the gallbladder can be surface marked at this position in the right hypochondriac region of the abdominal wall
What is any gallbladder pain a result of? Where is it referred to?
- gallstones (cholelithiasis) 2.inflammation (cholecystitis) -usually referred first to the epigastric region
Where will the gallbladder pain progress to?
progress of the disease and involvement of the overlying parietal peritoneum, the pain will migrate to the right hypochondriac region towards the tip of the right 9th costal cartilage
What can be elected in a patient with inflamed gallbladder?
Murphy’s sign
How is Murphy’s sign elicted?
asking the patient to breathe in whilst palpating the right subcostal area, causing pain on inspiration
Where does the spleen lie? Is it palpable?
- lies under cover of the ribs on the left hypochondrium
2. Usually not palpable even during deep inspiration
When does the spleen become palpable?
has to enlarge at least 3 – 4 times before it becomes palpable below the left costal margin
What are the three borders of the liver?
- upper border
- oblique border
- right border
Where is the upper border of the liver?
- closely follow the right dome of the diaphragm in mid inspiration is marked by a line from the right 5th rib and costal cartilage
- which extends across the lower end of the sternum
- to the left 5th intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line (point 3)