abdominal assessment Flashcards
viscera
internal organs of the abdomen
peritoneum lines abdominal wall (______) and covers surface (_______) of most organs
- parietal
- visceral
solid viscera
organs that maintain a solid shape
solid viscera organs
- liver
- pancreas
- spleen
- adrenal glands
- kidneys
- ovaries
- uterus
shape of ______ viscera depends on content
hollow
hollow viscera organs
- stomach
- gallbladder
- small intestine
- colon
- bladder
4 quadrants of abdomen
- right upper quadrant (RUQ)
- left upper quadrant (LUQ)
- right lower quadrant (RLQ)
- left lower quadrant (LLQ)
midline organs
- aorta
- uterus (if enlarged)
- bladder (if distended)
abdominal cavity protected by the _________, _______, and the _______.
- rectus abdominis muscles
- oblique muscles
- linea alba
RUQ organs
- liver
- gallbladder
- duodenum
- head of the pancreas
- R. kidney + adrenal gland
- hepatic flexure of colon
- part of ascending + transverse colon
LUQ organs
- stomach
- spleen
- left lobe of liver
- body of pancreas
- L. kidney + adrenal gland
- splenic flexure of colon
- part of transverse + descending colon
RLQ organs
- cecum
- appendix
- R. ovary + tube
- R. ureter
- R. spermatic cord
LLQ
- part of descending colon
- sigmoid colon
- L. ovary + tube
- L. ureter
- L. spermatic cord
liver is located in what quadrant? where in relation to diaphragm and kidney?
- RUQ
- below diaphragm + above R. kidney
pancreas is located where? the body of the pancreas and head of pancreas is in what quadrant?
- behind the stomach
- body = LUQ
- head = RUQ
spleen is located in what quadrant? where in relation to diaphragm and kidney?
- LUQ
- just below diaphragm + above L. kidney
gallbladder is where and in what quadrant?
- underneath posterior surface of liver
- RUQ
kidneys is _____ to the abdominal contents
retroperitoneal
the left kidney is in what quadrant? between what ribs?
- LUQ
- btw 11th + 12th ribs
the right kidney is in what quadrant? where in relation to left kidney and why?
- RUQ
- 1.5-2 cm lower than L. kidney due to size of liver
L. adrenal gland is located in what quadrant?
LUQ
R. adrenal gland is located in what quadrant?
RUQ
the GI tract is a long tube (_____) w/in the abdomen that runs from the?
- 27 ft
- mouth to the anus
GI tract includes? what occurs in the GI tract?
- esophagus
- stomach
- small intestine
- large intestine (colon)
- digestion
esophagus is a? where is it in relation to trachea? what does it connect?
- 10 in collapsible tube
- posterior to trachea
- connects pharynx to stomach
the stomach is in what quadrant? location in relation to diaphragm?
- LUQ
- below the diaphragm
3 sections of the stomach
- fundus
- body
- pylorus
small intestine begins at the _____ and is approx. 21 ft long. the small intestine connects the ______ to the _____ and is made up of three sections:____, ____, ____.
- pylorus
- stomach
- large intestine
- duodenum
- jejunum
- illeum
large intestine connects the _____ to the _____ and is made up of 4 sections: _____, ____, _____, ____.
- small intestine
- anus
- cecum
- ascending colon
- transverse colon
- descending colon
in aging adult: abdominal wall musculature?
relaxes
changes of the GI system occur w/ aging, but most do not significantly affect ____ as long as no _____ is present.
- function
- disease
salivation ____, leading to?
- decreases
- dry mouth + decreased sense of taste
esophageal emptying + gastric acid secretion are?
delayed
incidence of _____ increases w/ age.
gallstones
although liver size ______, most liver fxns ________; however, drug metabolism is ______.
- decreases
- remain normal
- impaired
aging adults frequently report?
constipation
what standardizes symptoms criteria for fxnal constipation?
ROME III
common causes of constipation found in older adults
- decreased physical activity
- inadequate intake of water
- low-fiber diet
- SE meds
- IBS
- bowel obstruction
- hyperthyroidism
- inadequate toilet facilities (difficulty ambulating to toilet may cause person to deliberately retains tool until it becomes hard + difficult to pass)
lactase
digestive enzyme necessary for absorption of carbohydrate lactose (milk sugar)
ppl who are lactose intolerant have what S/S when milk products are consumed?
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- flatulence
celiac disease
- autoimmune dz
- gluten intolerant
subjective data
- appetite
- dysphagia
- food intol
- abdominal pain
- N/V
- bowel habits
- past and hist
- meds
- nutritional assessment
appetite: ask about?
- changes in appetite (time period + amt)
- changes in wt (loss/gain [amt] + time period)
dysphagia: ask about?
- any difficulty swallowing
- onset + associated symptoms
food intolerance: ask about?
- type of food rxn that occur
- use of Rx/OTC med (amt + freq)
pain associated w/ duodenal ulcers occurs? how can it be relieved?
- 2-3 hrs aft meal
- relieved by eating more food
chronic pain associated w/ gastric ulcers usually occurs?
- empty stomach
N/V: ask about?
- onset, freq, type + amt
- associated S and/or triggers
- recent foods eaten and/or travel habits
bowel habits: ask about?
- freq, color, consistency, D or constipation
- any recent changes
- laxative use: type, amt, freq
black stools
- may be tarry bc occult blood (melena) from upper GI bleed or non-tarry from iron meds
localized bleeding around anus would cause?
bright red blood w/ localized anus bleeding (hemorrhoids)
past abd hist: ask about?
- GI dz/pathology
- GI diagnostic procedues
- GI surgeries + clin response
meds: ask about?
- Rx + OTC
- alc: type, amt, freq
- smoking hist
nutritional assessment: ask about?
dietary history
chronical alcohol use has been attributed to the development of _____. This is in part due to the __________________________.
- malnutrition
- inhibitory effect of ethanol on the absorption of vital nutrients (glucose, amino acids, lipids, H2O, vitamins, minerals) w/in the small intestine
primary malnutrition?
alcohol displaces food
secondary malnutrition?
alcohol interferes w/ digestion + absorption of nutrients
wernicke-korsakoff syndrome?
- thiamin deficiency
- memory disorder
- require immediate tx
- most often happens in ppl w/ alc use dz + malnutrition
what vitamins and other nutrients cannot be absorbed in the small intestine due to the inhibitory effect of ethanol?
- vit. B1 (thiamine)
- vit. B2 (riboflavin)
- vit. B9 (folate)
- vit. C (ascorbic acid)
- selenium
- iron
- zinc
additional history of aging adults: ask about?
- access to groceries + food prep
- shared meals/eat alone
- 24 hr dietary recall
- swallowing/feeding difficulties
- activities done following mealtimes
- bowel health: freq, constipation, fiber in diet, use of laxatives
- meds: Rx + OTC
preparation of assessment (objective data)
- adequate light, expose abdomen so fully visible
- drape genitalia + female breasts
- position for comfort to enhance abdominal wall relaxation
- AUSCULTATE PRIOR TO PALPATION + PERCUSSION
how to position for comfort to enhance abdominal wall relaxation
- empty bladder prior to exam w/ specimen saved if needed
- warm stethoscope + examine areas identified as painful last to prevent guarding
equipment for abdominal assessment
- stethoscope
- small cm ruler
- skin-marking pen
- alc wipe to clean endpiece
inspection of abdomen
- surface structures
- skin color + characteristics
- venous return
- lesions + scars
- tautness + striae
dilated veins on the surface of the skin indicated? what is the indication found in?
- portal HTN
- liver cirrhosis or vena cava obstruction
caput medusa
distended/engorged superficial epigastric veins around umbilicius
why does caput medusa occur?
increased pressure in the portal system from portal HTN -> affects collateral flow btw portal + systemic systems
striae (_____) are ____ and usually not _____. often associated w/ wt ______ or -_____.
- stretch marks
- common
- pathological
- gain
- pregnancy
an exorbitant amt of striae may be associated with certain diseases that have _______, such as _______.
- abnormal collagen production
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
inspection of the abdomen includes?
- contour
- symmetry
- umbilicus
- skin
inspection: contour
- abdominal profile from rib margin to pubis
- describes nutritional state + norm ranges from flat to rounded
inspection: symmetry
abdomen should be symmetric bilaterally (w/ pt first seated, then standing)
inspection: umbilicus
- norm midline + inverted
- no sign of discoloration, inflammation, or hernia
inspection: skin
- surface smooth + even
- homogeneous color
- assess skin turgor
- inspect for pigment change + presence of lesions or scars
scaphoid contour
scaphoid abdomen caves inward
rounded/convex contour
obese abdomen appears uniformly rounded w/ sunken umbilicus
protuberant contour
protuberant abdomen is rounded, bulging, and stretched
hernia
protrusion of the abdominal viscera through an abdominal opening in the abdominal muscle wall
inspection: pulsation/movement NORM
- see pulsations from aorta beneath skin in epigastric area
- see particularly in thin persons w/ good muscle wall relaxation
pulsations of the renal arteries are/are not visable?
ARE NOT
the vena cava is a ? with/with no pulsation?
- vein, not an artery
- WITH NO
waves of peristalsis are sometimes visible in ______ and appear as a ?
- very thin people
- slow ripple moving obliquely across the abdomen
inspection: hair distribution
pattern of pubic growth norm has diamond shape in adult males and inverted triangle shape in adult females