Abdomen, Anus, Rectum, Prostate and Genitourinary System Flashcards
What are organs in the abdomen called?
Viscera
Differences between solid and hollow viscera
Solid keeps their shape
Hollow organs change shape based on what’s inside of them
Name the 6 solid abdominal organs
- Liver
- Spleen
- Both kidneys
- Pancreas
- Uterus
- Ovaries
Name a few of the hollow viscera
Gallbladder
Stomach
Small intestines
Appendix
Bladder
All of large intestine
Rectum
What major organs are found in the right upper quadrant?
Liver
Gallbladder
Right kidney and adrenal gland
Head of pancreas
Parts of the ascending and transverse colon
What major organs are found in the left upper quadrant?
Stomach
Spleen
Left lobe of liver
Body of pancreas
Left kidney and adrenal gland
Parts of transverse and descending colon
What major organs are in the right lower quadrant?
Appendix
Right ovary and fallopian tube
Cecum
Right ureter
What major organs are in the left lower quadrant?
Left ureter
Left ovary and fallopian tube
Part of descending colon
Sigmoid colon
What’s in the midline suprapubic region of the abdomen?
Aorta
Uterus
Bladder (if distended can feel)
Name changes in accumulation of adipose tissue in older adults
-Redistribution away from extremities and face to the abdomen and hips
-Women = Increase in suprapubic area due to decreased estrogen
-Men = Increase in abdominal area
In terms of the GI tract what decreases in older adults?
Salivation
Gastric acid production
Liver size
Renal function
In terms of GI function what are older adults at an increased risk of?
-Aspiration (due to delayed esophageal emptying)
-Dehydration
-Gallstones
-Constipation
-Colorectal cancer
Abdominal Hx questions of note
Appetite (anorexia)
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Nausea/vomiting (Hematemesis, food poisoning)
Bowel habits (melena-blood in the stool presents as black, hepatitis, colorectal cancer)
Medications (liver toxicity)
Alcohol & tobacco (esophagus & liver cancers, cirrhosis of the liver)
Nutrition (malnutrition)
-Food access
-Emotional characteristics (do they eat alone?)
-Recall
For abdominal Hx what is an important finding for food intolerances?
Pyrosis (like acid reflux likely from a hiatal hernia)
For abdominal Hx what are important findings for abdominal pain?
-Appendicitis
-Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)
-Bowel obstruction
-Organ perforation
-Ulcers
For abdominal past health Hx what are important findings?
-Familial adenomatous polyps (FAP)-(A large amount of benign polyps in the abdominal tract that can become malignant
-Abdominal adhesions
Inspection of abdominal contour and symmetry
-Scaphoid
Rounded, protuberant can be normal if overweight but if not can indicate ascites, gas, mass if asymmetrical
-Inspect contour at eye level!!! (bend down)
Umbilicus inspection
-Color
-Position should be midline
-Orientation usually inverted (if it has changed to everted than look into it unless that is their normal)
Abdominal skin inspection
-Color
-Striae (normally 1-6cm)
-Presence of visible veins is abnormal
-Rashes
-Lesions
-Turgor
Extraordinary abdominal skin inspection
-Pulsation or movement (look for pulsation of the aorta)
-Hair distribution
-Demeanour
-Ostomies (bypass the colon and rectum to excrete)
& percutaneous tubes (Peg-percutaneous endogastric feeding tubes)
Bowel sound auscultation: What are you listening for, where to start, what end of stethoscope, normal sounds/min.
-Peristalsis of intestines
-Diaphragm end
-Begin in RLQ
-Normal: 5-30 sounds/min
Vascular sounds auscultation: which places/parts to listen for
-Aorta
-Left and right renal arteries
-Left and right iliac arteries
-Left and right femoral arteries
Vascular sounds auscultation: normal sounds to be heard, what end of stethoscope
-Place gently over skin
-Normal: no vascular sounds
-Bell end
-Auscultate clockwise!!!
Hyperactive bowel sounds: what is it, normal, abnormal and cause
-Increased motility
-Normal: stomach growling
-Abnormal: loud, high-pitched, rushing, tinkling sounds
-Cause: bowel obstruction
Hypoactive or absent bowel sounds: what is it, how long to listen for, causes
-Decreased, or absent motility
-Listen for full 5 mins.
-Total absence is rare
-Causes: post-abdominal surgery, inflammation of peritoneum
Describe the sound of a systolic bruit vascular sound
Pulsing blowing sound
Pitch dependent on cause
List the 3 causes of systolic bruits
-Renal artery stenosis
-Abdominal aortic aneurysm
-Partial occlusion of femoral arteries
Describe the sound of a venous hum vascular sound
-Soft, continuous humming noise of medium pitch
Where can a venous hum be heard?
Between the xiphoid process and umbilicus
2 causes of a venous hum
-Portal HTN
-Liver cirrhosis
Purpose of abdominal percussion
-To assess density & location of organs
-Screen for abnormal fluid or masses
-Percuss clockwise!!!
What type of organs would expect to feel tympany vs. dullness?
Tympany: hollow organs
Dullness: Solid organs
Abnormal finding for abdominal percussion
-Hyper-resonance: very abnormally hollow
-Dullness where there should be tympany could indicate a mass
Light abdominal palpation is meant to assess what?
-Texture
-Temperature
-Moisture
-Swelling
-Rigidity
-Pulsation
-Presence of tenderness/pain
Steps of light abdominal palpation
- Ensure patient is relaxed
- Use first 4 fingers together and depress 1 cm
- Move fingers in gentle circular motion
Abdominal palpation 5 important findings
- Involuntary rigidity
- Guarding
- Tenderness
- Masses
- Organomegaly (abnormal enlargement of an organ)
Involuntary rigidity
Cannot relax abdominal muscles
What can abdominal guarding and tenderness indicate?
if in RLQ ->Appendicitis
8 main signs & symptoms of appendicitis
Fatigue
Fever
Abdominal pain and tenderness
Dry mouth
Swelling
Diarrhea or constipation
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
What is albumin?
Most common circulating protein found in plasma
What is ascites and what can it be due to?
Fluid collection in the peritoneal cavity due to portal HTN and low albumin in the blood
3 causes of ascites
Liver cirrhosis
Congestive heart failure
Cancers
Inspection with ascites:
-Larger abdominal girth
-Striae
-Jaundice
-Everted umbilicus
-Glistening skin over abdomen
-Tight skin (more stretched)
Auscultation with ascites:
-Normal over middle of abdomen when supine where ascites is not
Dull sounds over where the ascites is on the sides because gravity pushes to the sides when supine
Percussion and palpation with ascites:
Percussion: dull over fluid (on the sides)
Palpation: Limited because painful and hard to because the skin is so tight
Bowel obstruction findings:
-Vomiting and loss of appetite lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes
-Absence of stool or gas passage
-Distended abdomen (accumulation of fluid and gas in bowel proximal to obstruction)
-Hyperactive in early stages; hypoactive or silent sounds in late obstruction
-Fever
-Hypovolemic shock (decreased BP, increased pulse, cool skin)