Abdominal Flashcards
4 Quadrants:
Upper Right - liver, right kidney, duodenum
Lower Right - appendix, cecum, ascending
Upper Left - spleen, stomach
Lower Left - descending/sigmoid, left kidney
9 Regions
Middle Top-Bottom
Epigastric, Umbilical, Hypogastric
L-R Top Bottom
Hypochondriac, Lumbar, Iliac
If painful areas, inspect last. T/F?
True
Purplish color suggests:
Internal bleeding
Yellowish color suggests:
Liver disease
Red color suggests:
Inflammation
Pale & taut suggests:
Ascites (fluid in abdomen)
Dark bluish striae suggest:
Cushings (Underactive Adrenal glands)
Excessive scar tissue suggests:
Keloids
A distended abdomen may be due to (5)
- Gas
- Fluid
- Feces
- Tumor
- Fat
Distension below umbilicus may be due to: (3)
- Full bladder
- Uterine enlargement
- Ovarian tumor
Bulges or asymmetry suggest: (4)
- Hernia
- Tumors
- Bowel obstruction
- Organ enlargement
Slight aortic pulsations may be seen in the epigastrium. T/F?
True
When auscultating abdominal sounds start in the:
Right Lower Quadrant and proceed clockwise.
Hypoactive sounds may indicate:
Bowel Obstruction
Hyperactive sounds may indicate:
Diarrhea or Impending Obstruction
Absence of bowel sounds suggests:
Paralytic Ileus or Peritonitis
High pitched tinkling sounds suggest:
Bowel obstruction
To confirm absence of bowel sounds listen for:
5 minutes
When percussing, we hear _____ over most areas.
Tympany
Dullness is heard over the:
Spleen, liver or full rectum.
Hyperresonance indicates:
Gas
Dullness beyond normal borders of liver and spleen indicate:
Organ enlargement
To measure the liver we:
- Measure lower border. Note where change from tympany to dullness.
- Measure upper border percuss down chest to where tympany changes to dullness.
The distance between the upper and lower border =
Liver span
The lower border should be?
1-2 cm below the costal margin
Upper border should be?
5th Intercostal Space
Distance should measure
6-12 cm (Upper for males & tall people, lower for females and shorties)
Increased liver span suggests:
Cirrhosis, tumor or vascular engorgement.
Reduced liver span suggests:
Atrophy
When palpating, involuntary guarding suggests:
Peritoneal irritation
If there is abdominal tenderness, test for:
Appendicitis
Test for Psoas sign?
Raise right leg from hip. Press down while client resists.
What would the Psoas test indicate?
Pain in RLQ associated with appendicitis.
Test for Positive Obturator Sign?
Raise leg & support clients ankle.
Flex knee & rotate leg internally & externally.
Pain in Obturator Sign?
RLQ associated with appendicits.
