Abdominal Exam Flashcards
Borborygmi
Prolonged gurgle indicative of hunger, gastroenteritis, early bowel obstruction.
Tinkles
High pitched sound that suggest fluid and air under pressure.
Cullen sign
Bluish color around umbilicus. Indicative of intraperitoneal hemorrhage, pancreatitis, ectopic pregnancy.
Ballottement
Method to assess presence and size of mass. Enter at 90 degree angle to abdomen. If freely moveable mass floats to fingertips.
Grey Turner sign
Eccymosis of flanks suggest hemoperitoneum or pancreatitis
Shifting dullness
Determine border of tympany and dullness in ascites.
Murphy sign
Abrupt cessation of inspiration while palpating gallbladder.
Fluid wave
Wave transmitted past pt’s hand at midline - positive for ascites
Rovsing sign
RLQ pain intensified by LLQ abdominal palpation
Psoas sign
Painful RLQ suggests irritated peritoneal lining while flexing psoas muscle
McBurney sign
Pain with palpation at RLQ, midway between umbilicus and anterior superior iliac spine. Suggests appendicitis or other peritoneal inflammation.
Obturator sign
Testing for irritation due to obturator muscle. Internal/external leg rotation.
Blumberg sign
Rebound tenderness. Pain is localized upon quick lifting from palpation to remote area.
Heel jar
Pt stands on tip toes, drops to heel. Can strike heels if pt supine.
Hematochezia
Passage of fresh, bright red, blood in stool.
Constipation
Difficulty in emptying bowels, usually associated with hardened stools
Hematemesis
Vomiting blood
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Melena
Passage of dark, tarry stools
Globus
Persistent intermittent nonpainful sensation of lump or foreign body in throat.
Nausea
Feeling of sickness with inclination to vomit
Flatus
Gas in or from stomach or intestines
Vomiting
Eject matter from stomach through mouth
Singultus
Hiccup (diaphragm spasm)
Diarrhea
Frequent watery stools
Reflux
Backward flow of contents of stomach to esophagus
Gastroparesis
Paresis of stomach causing decreased stomach emptying.
Eructation
Belch
