Abdominal Assessment

Question 1

pt should be supine, bed or exam table should be flat

Answer 1

pt is supine, bed or exam table is flat

Question 2

inspect abdomen noting color, pulsations, visible peristalsis, and bulges

Answer 2

color appropriate for ethnicity; no pulsations, visible peristalsis, or bulges noted

Question 3

identify location of the four quadrants

Answer 3

RUQ
LUQ
LLQ
RLQ

Question 4

auscultation abdomen in 4 quadrants, state frequency of bowel sounds

Answer 4

bowel sounds are high pitched gurgles every 10 seconds in all 4 quadrants

Question 5

auscultation abdomen with bell listening for bruits over vascular sites: aorta, r & l renal, r & l iliac, r & l femoral

Answer 5

no bruits heard over aorta
no bruits heard over right and left renal arteries
no bruits heard over right and left iliac arteries
no bruits heard over right and left femoral arteries

Question 6

percuss four quadrants

Answer 6

dullness heard in RUQ, tympany heard in LUQ, tympany/dullness heard in LLQ, tympany heard in RUQ

Question 7

percuss liver borders (measure and state liver size)

Answer 7

liver span is (theirs) cm, normal is 6 to 12 cm

Question 8

palpate abdomen with light pressure in each quadrant

Answer 8

muscles relaxed, no rigidity, pain, or masses palpated in each quadrant

Question 9

palpate abdomen using deep pressure in each quadrant

Answer 9

muscles relaxed, no rigidity, pain, or masses palpated in each quadrant

Question 10

palpate aorta

Answer 10

aorta is palpable

Question 11

palpate liver

Answer 11

smooth edge of liver noted, smooth edges are normal, no tenderness on palpating

Question 12

palpate spleen

Answer 12

spleen is nonpalpable, normal is nonpalpable

Question 13

palpate right and left kidneys

Answer 13

kidneys are nonpalpable, normal is nonpalpable

Question 14

percuss the kidneys for CVA tenderness

Answer 14

no CVA tenderness noted bilaterally