Abdomen - Textbook Flashcards
Name the layers of the abdominal muscles from outermost to innermost
- External abdominal oblique
- Internal abdominal oblique
- Transverse abdominis
What is the Rectus Abdominis?
connective tissue from the 3 layers of abdominal muscles that extends forward to encase a vertical muscle of the anterior abdominal wall
What is Aponeurosis?
thin sheath of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone (similar to tendons)
What is Linea Alba?
a white line formed by the joining of muscle fibers and aponeurosis at the midline of the abdomen
What is the function of abdominal muscles?
protect internal organs and allow normal compression during functional activities such as sneezing, coughing, urination, defecation, and childbirth
What are the 9 abdominal regions?
- Right hypochondriac
- Epigastric
- Left hypochondriac
- Right lumbar
- Umbilical
- Left lumber
- Right iliac (inguinal)
- Hypogastric
- Left iliac (inguinal)
What contents can be found in the RUQ? (10)
Ascending and transverse colon, duodenum, gallbladder, hepatic flexure of colon, liver, pancreas (head), pylorus, right adrenal gland, right kidney (upper pole), right ureter
What contents can be found in the RLQ? (7)
Appendix, ascending colon, cecum, right kidney (lower pole), right ovary and tube, right ureter, right spermatic cord
What contents can be found in the LUQ? (8)
Left adrenal gland, left kidney (upper pole), left ureter, pancreas (body and tail), spleen, splenic flexure of colon, stomach, transverse descending
What contents can be found in the LLQ? (5)
Left kidney (lower pole), left ovary and tube, left ureter, left spermatic cord, descending and sigmoid colon
What contents can be found in the midline area? (3)
bladder, uterus, and prostate gland
What lines the abdominal cavity?
thin, shiny, serous membrane called the parietal peritoneum
What provides a protective covering for most of the internal abdominal organs?
visceral peritoneum
What is Solid viscera? Provide examples
organs that maintain their shape consistently (ie liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, ovaries, and uterus)
What is Hollow viscera? Provide examples
organs that change shape depending on their contents (ie stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and bladder)
If palpable, the liver can be found below the _________ and has a _____ consistency.
right costal margin; soft
What is the function of the liver? (7)
- accessory digestive organ
- glucose storage
- formation of blood plasma proteins and clotting factors
- urea synthesis
- destruction of RBC
- storage of iron and vitamins
- detoxification
Is the pancreas normally palpable? Where is it located?
no and mostly located behind the stomach
What are the functions of the pancreas? (2)
- is an endocrine gland
- accessory organ of digestion
When the spleen _______, the _______ extends down and toward the midline.
enlarges; lower tip
What does the spleen do? (3)
- filter the blood of cellular debris
- digest microorganisms
- return the breakdown products to the liver
What do the kidneys do? (4)
- filtration
- elimination of metabolic waste products
- play a role in BP and maintenance of water, salt, and electrolytes
- endocrine gland by secreting hormones (erythropoietin and renin)
What hormones do the kidneys secrete?
erythropoietin and renin
What is the purpose of the gallbladder?
concentrate and store bile that’s needed to digest fat
Who has 40-50% increased risk of gastric cancer?
Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and Asian/pacific islanders
What bacteria causes stomach ulcers?
Helicobacter pylori
Stomach cancer has an association with what bacteria?
Helicobacter pylori
When does abdominal pain occur?
when specific digestive organs or structures are affects by chemical or mechanical factors such as inflammation, infection, distention, stretching, pressure, obstruction, or trauma
Onset of pain is a diagnostic clue to its _______.
origin
Dull or burning pain located b/w the breasts and umbilicus may occur with ________.
peptic ulcers
Pancreatic inflammation can be felt where and what type of pain is this?
felt in the back; referred pain (bc pain is not felt at the source)
Describe the pain duration associated with Duodenal ulcer
clients may have pain a few hours after eating that is relieved when they eat again
What older adult considerations must be taken into account when assessing for abdominal pain?
sensitivity to pain may diminish with aging
In what position can pain be exacerbated in clients with GERD?
supine position
What can exacerbate the pain for a client with pancreatitis?
alcohol ingestion
What associated factors are often seen in clients with Crohn’s disease aside from abdominal pain?
cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and lack of energy
What is another name for indigestion that is often described as heartburn?
Pyrosis
Pyrosis may be an indication of what conditions?
acute/chronic gastric disorders
What are some symptoms of GERD?
heartburn, dry cough, asthma symptoms, trouble swallowing
What is a term used to describe vomiting with blood?
Hematemesis
Who is at risk for lung aspiration with vomiting?
Neuromuscular or consciousness-impaired clients
What older adults considerations should be taken into account when assessing appetite?
these clients may experience a decline in appetite from various factors such as altered metabolism, decreased taste sensation, decreased mobility, and, possibly, depression; if appetite declines, the client’s risk for nutritional imbalance increases
What older adult considerations should be taken into account when assessing bowel elimination?
these clients are esp at risk for potential complications with diarrhea, such as fluid volume deficit, dehydration, and electrolyte and acid-base imbalances bc they have a higher fat-to-lean muscle ratio
What older adult considerations should be taken into account when assessing for UTI?
these clients are more prone to UTIs bc the activity of protective bacteria in the urinary tract declines with age
What viral infection may cause liver damage?
hepatitis
High _____ intake may lead to chronic constipation
iron
Describe the three types of abdominal pain
- Visceral pain: when hollow organs become distended or contract forcefully
- Parietal pain: when the parietal peritoneum becomes inflamed (ie appendicitis)
- Referred pain: occurs in distant sites; this pain travels from the primary site to a distant site
What is a peptic ulcer?
ulcers or open sores that form in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine when acid eats away the protective mucous covering and erodes the underlying lining of these organs
What are some symptoms of peptic ulcers?
feelings of fullness (decrease fluid and food intake), chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, black or tarry stool, and vomiting (may be bloody)
What is GERD? describe it
occurs when the stomach acid or contents flow back into the esophagus and irritate the lining of the esophagus
What are some symptoms of GERD?
hoarseness, laryngitis, chronic dry cough, asthma, feeling as if there’s a lump in the throat, sudden increase in saliva, bad breath (halitosis), earaches, and/or chest pain or discomfort
What is another name for bad breath?
halitosis
