Abdominal Assessment Flashcards
What are the 4 quadrants of the abdomen and their respective major organs?
RUQ- liver, gallbladder
RLQ- appendix
LUQ- stomach, spleen
LLQ- descending colon
What is the term that summarizes all of the internal organs?
viscera
What are the 2 types of viscera?
hollow & solid
What is the span of the abdomen?
diaphragm => brim of pelvis
What are 4 potential contours of a person’s abdomen?
Flat
Scaphoid (sunken)
Rounded
Protuberant
What are hyperactive bowel sounds?
Abnormal, loud, high-pitched rushing/tinkling sounds that signal increased motility.
What are hypoactive bowel sounds?
Abnormal absence of sound. Common after surgery or with inflammation of peritoneum.
***Must listen for 5 minutes before declaring them completely absent.
Define borborygmous.
“stomach growling” fairly common type pf over-active bowels.
What is the term for an enlarged liver?
hepatomagaly
Dullness with percussion should occur over which organs normally?
Liver and spleen, dullness over other organs could signify fluid build-up or masses.
What is the difference between voluntary guarding and rigidity?
Rigidity is involuntary, boardlike hardness of muscles accompanying acute inflammation of the peritoneum. Voluntary guarding is due to coldness, tenseness, or ticklishness.
What pulsations do you NOT want to see on your patient’s abdomen?
peristalsis (aortic pulse is normal)
What are 2 common bulges on the infant’s abdomen?
umbilical hernia & diastasis recti
*Both should disappear eventually, the hernia by age 1 and the diastasis recti by early childhood.
What are some different reasons for abdominal distension?
Obesity, Air or Gas, Ascites, Ovarian Cyst, Pregnancy, Feces, Tumor.
What is succession splash?
In infants, very loud splash auscultated over the upper abdomen when the infant is rocked side to side. Indicates air and fluid in the stomach.
