ABDOMEN Flashcards
Main Function of the GastroIntestinal System
Supply nutrients to body cells
GI system consists of the GI tract and its associated organs and glands:
(GI tract) Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestines, rectum, anus
(Associated organs) Liver, Gall bladder, pancreas
Process of Digestion and Elimination:
Ingestion, Digestion, Absorption, Elimination
Food is broken down into small and simple compounds enough to be absorbed into bloodstream by ___ or ____
diffusion ; active transport
Effects of Aging on the GI Tract:
- Teeth may loosen up from the supporting gums and bones
- Decreased output of the salivary glands leads to dryness of mucous membranes and increased susceptibility to breakdown, difficulty swallowing and decreased stimulation of the taste buds
- Decreased secretion of digestive enzymes and bile– decrease ability to digest and absorb food. (Unpaired absorption of fat and fat soluble vitamins)
- Atrophy of gastric mucosa leads to decrease HCl acid production (Decrease iron and B12 absorption; anemia ;Proliferation of bacteria– diarrhea and infection)
- Decrease peristalsis in the large intestine, decrease muscular tone of the intestinal wall and decrease abdominal muscle strength, decrease sensation to defecate and increase incidence of constipation.
Regions of the Abdomen:
Epigastric, Umbilical, Suprabic or Hypogastric
Area between costal margin
Epigastric
Area around the umbilicus
Umbilical
Area above the pubic bone
Hypogastric/Suprabic
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Liver, Gall bladder, Duodenum, Right Kidney, and Hepatic Flexure Colon
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
Stomach, Spleen, Left Lobe of liver, Body of Pancreas, Left Kidney and Adrenal, Splenic Flexure of colon, Part of transverse and descending colon
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
Cecum, Appendix (in female: right ovary, & right ureter)
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
Part of descending colon, Sigmoid colon, Left ovary and tube, Left ureter, Left Spermatic cord
Midline:
Aorta, Uterus, Bladder
“Inspiratory arrest” palpating the liver should be painless but if pain is present; patient can’t complete deep breathing = cholecystitis
Murphy’s sign
Technique used for tenderness when abdominal pain reported.
Rebound Tenderness- Blumberg’s Sign
An alternative method of palpating liver is to stand up at a person’s shoulder and swirve your body to right so that you face the person’s feet
Hooking Technique
Heard over lung tissue
Resonance
Heard over most portions of the abdominal cavity
Tympany
Heard over solid organs (e.g. liver) and muscles
Dullness
This is a short high pitched and is not loud. The sounds are heard over liver.
Dullness
Present when there is an extensive pleural effusion or over a solid organ such as liver and heart
Flatness
An indication of generalized peritonitis. It is an extension of guarding with involvement of all the muscles of the abdominal wall. The patient may also manifest “rebound tenderness” where deep palpation is associated with pain
Rigidity
Dull pain in RUQ or Epigastric
Liver
GER burning in midepigastrium or behind lower sternum
Esophagus
Colecystitis is binary colic sudden pain in RUQ; Rt & Lt scapula
Gallbladder
Acute boring midepigastrium radiate to back & Lt scapula
Pancreas
Dull; aching, gnawing, epigastric radiate to back or substernal
Stomach
Sudden onset of sever colicky flank or lower abdominal pain
Kidney
Generalized abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting
Small intestine
Large bowl sharp, burning obstruction, colicky, & cramping
Colon
Obesity, Air or gas, Ascites, Ovarian cyst, Pregnancy, Feces, Tumor
Abnormal Findings: Abnormal Distentions
Enlarged liver, Enlarged nodular liver, enlarged gallbladder, enlarged spleen, enlarged kidney, aortic aneurysm
Abnormal Findings: On palpation of enlarged organs
Accumulation of free fluid in peritoneum; Assessment involve single curve, everted umbilicus, bulging flanks, glistening skin recent wait gain
Ascites
Localized distention, Auscultation normal bowel sound, Percussion; dull over mass
Tumor
Soft skin covered mass, protrusion intestine through weakness increased due to increase abdominal pressure; epigastria, incisional & diastasis recti
Hernia
Abnormal enlargement of liver
Hepatomegaly
9 regions of the abdomen:
Right Epigastric, epigastric region, left epigastric region, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right iliac, hypogastric, left iliac
