Abdomen Flashcards
T/F: Total absence of bowel sounds is a sign of intra-abdominal emergency. (Must listen for minimum of 2-5 minutes)
True
Excessive fluid within the abdomen. Caused by liver disease/cirrhosis
Ascites
A palpation technique in which you “bounce” a floating structure and feel it rebound (e.g. Kidneys - one hand on posterior, one anterior)
Ballottement
Prolonged, audible abdominal sounds produced by gas moving through the intestines (hyper peristalsis, stomach growling)
Borborygmi
Stones or solid lumps (gallstones, kidney stones)
Calculi
Attacks of abdominal pain, caused by muscle spasms in the intestines - common in infants
Colic
Indigestion. Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, bloating and gas
Dyspepsia
Problems in swallowing food or liquids
Dysphagia
Accidental passage of bowel
Encopresis
Vomiting of blood (from GI tract)
Hematemesis
Passage of dark-colored, tarry stools due to the presence of blood, altered by the intestinal juices.
Melena
Severe itching of the skin
Pruritus
Yellow fatty feces caused by malabsorption syndrome. Frequent, fatty, foul smelling
Steatorrhea
Straining to have a bowel movement. May be painful and continue for a long time without a bowel movement.
Tenesmus
Stretched veins
Varices
Dry mouth
Xerostomia
A hepatic bruit and friction rubs could indicate?
Liver cancer
An inflammatory bowel disease in which the rectum and/or colon develop ulcers
Ulcerative Colitis
Positive rebound tenderness AND Rovsing Sign, along with rigidity noted over the abdomen on palpation might tell you? (Not appendicitis)
Ulcerative Colitis
A type of irritable bowel disease that causes inflammation of the intestinal lining. Most commonly affects ileum and colon.
Crohn’s Disease
Inflammation of the peritoneum. Severe muscle guarding (board-like rigidity) may accompany. Friction rubs may occur.
Peritonitis
What sound dominates throughout the abdominal cavity?
Tympany (air in the gut)
Partial or early obstruction of the small intestine would produce ____ sounds, while late or total obstruction would produce ___ sounds. (Hyperactive, Hypoactive)
Hyperactive/loud, hypoactive
Abdominal sounds “silent as the grave”
Paralytic ileus
The inability of the intestine to contract normally and move waste out of the body. Paralysis of the intestinal muscles. Leads to a functional blockage of the intestine.
Paralytic ileus (Ileus)
Protrusion of the intestinal contents. Occur in areas of abdominal wall weakness. Groin is most common. Scars and umbilicus are also common.
Hernia
A sign of an abnormally tender gall bladder. Patient stops inspiration due to increasing pain as they breath in.
Murphy’s sign
____ occurs when bile becomes trapped in the gallbladder. This often happens because gallstones block the cystic duct leading to swelling and infection.
Acute cholecystis
When the cardiac sphincter allows stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus causing irritation
GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease)
Breakdown in the lining of the stomach or duodenum
Peptic ulcer
T/F: A palpable spleen is normal, aka not a “red flag”
FALSE
The spleen only becomes palpable if it is __ times it’s normal size
3X
Another name for kidney stones
Nephrolithiasis
Kidney infection
Pyelonephritis
