Abdominal Assessment

Question 1

Pertaining to the division or branching of an object into two branches, such as the branching of blood vessels or bronchi:

Answer 1

Bifurcate

Question 2

Soft mass of lymphatic tissue on the posterolateral wall of the abdomen just under the diaphragm:

Answer 2

Spleen

Question 3

The normal outline or configuration of the body or of a part:

Answer 3

Contour

Question 4

The point on the abdomen at which the umbilical cord joined the fetal abdomen:

Answer 4

Umbilicus

Question 5

Difficulty in swallowing, commonly associated with obstructive or motor disorders of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or esophagus:

Answer 5

Dysphagia

Patients with obstructive disorders, such as esophageal tumor or lower esophageal ring, are unable to swallow solids but can tolerate liquids. People with motor disorders, such as achalasia, are unable to swallow solids or liquids.

Question 6

The coordinated, rhythmic serial contraction of smooth muscle that forces food through the digestive tract, bile through the bile duct, and urine through the ureters:

Answer 6

Peristalsis

Question 7

An abnormal blowing or swishing sound or murmur heard while auscultating a carotid artery, organ, or gland, resulting from blood flowing through a narrow or partially occluded artery:

Answer 7

Bruit

A systolic bruit is a pulsatile, blowing sound and occurs with occlusion of an artery.

Question 8

An abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of a fluid containing large amounts of protein and electrolytes:

Answer 8

Ascites

The condition may be accompanied by general abdominal swelling, hemodilution, edema, or a decrease in urinary output. Ascites is a complication of cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, nephrosis, malignant neoplastic disease, peritonitis, or various fungal and parasitic diseases.

Question 9

Pertaining to a disease or other pathological process that occurs simultaneously with another:

Answer 9

Co-morbidities

Question 10

Pertaining to a position behind and to the side:

Answer 10

Posterolateral

Question 11

Means shaped like a sword:

Answer 11

Xiphoid

Question 12

Boat-shaped, such as the bone in the wrist with this name:

Answer 12

Scaphoid

Question 13

Absolute stillness, resisting any movement, is demonstrated with the pain of?

Answer 13

Peritonitis

Question 14

Restlessness and constant turning to find comfort occur with the colicky pain of?

Answer 14

Gastroenteritis or bowel obstruction

Question 15

Marked visible peristalsis, together with a distended abdomen, indicates?

Answer 15

Intestinal obstruction

Question 16

Two distinct patterns of abnormal bowel sounds may occur:

Answer 16

1. Hyperactive sounds: are loud, high-pitched, rushing, tinkling sounds that signal increased motility.

They occur with early mechanical bowel obstruction, gastroenteritis, brisk diarrhea, laxative use, and subsiding paralytic ileus.

2. Hypoactive or absent sounds: these may follow abdominal surgery or occur with inflammation of the peritoneum or from late bowel obstruction.

Question 17

An enlarged liver span indicates liver enlargement, also known as:

Answer 17

HEPATOMEGALY

Except with a depressed diaphragm, a liver palpated more than 1-2 cm below the right costal margin is considered enlarged. Record number of cm it descends and note its consistency (hard, nodular) and any tenderness.

Question 18

What chronic disease would depress the diaphragm, pushing the liver lower, due to their distended lungs?

Answer 18

COPD

Question 19

A disorder characterized by the constriction of the lower portion of the esophagus, preventing normal swallowing:

Answer 19

Achalasia