Abdominal, Gastrointestinal, and Urologic Assessment Flashcards
Where are the abdominal contents specifically located in the body?
inferior to the diaphragm and superior to the pelvic floor
What bony landmarks outline the inferior aspect of the abdomen?
Right and left iliac crests
pubic tubercle
What are the posterior bony structures overlying the abdomen?
The T10 spinal vertebrae and articulating ribs, and bilateral iliac crests
What are the innermost abdominal muscles?
internal obliques and transverse abdominas muscles
What are the external abdominal muscles?
external obliques and rectus abdominus
Why is it important to know the internal and external abdominal muscles?
To understand light and deep palpation techniques.
Why is it difficult to determine cause of abdominal pain?
Due to the nonspecific neuro recepters within the visceral cavity that are only sensitive to stretch and chemical irritation.
Common causes of abdominal pain
"nonspecific"- 43% of patients acute appendicitis- 4-20% acute cholecystitis- 3-9% small bowel obstruction- 4% gastroenteritis gastritis peptic ulcer disease reflux esophagitis GERD IBS diverticulitis
What is imperative to consider when assessing the origin of abdominal pain?
referred pain
What are the two general causes of abdominal pain?
functional and/or organic
What is the general nature of abdominal pain?
acute or chronic
What is the juncture that separates the esophagus from the stomach?
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
What marks the beginning of the duodenum?
pyloric sphincter
Where is the stomach located?
left upper abdomen
What is the term for digested food?
chyme
What is the primary function of the small intestine?
facilitation of further digestion and absorption of nutrients
What are the three segments of the small intestine?
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
What is the most striking aspect of the small intestine?
Its length of 21 feet
What are the primary digestive actions that occur in the ileum?
absorption of vitamin b12 and bile salts
How many segments is the large intestine composed of?
Seven
What are the segments of the large intestine?
cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, and anus
What are the main functions of the large intestine?
To absorb water and electrolytes from the chyme and facilitate elimination of the residual, undigested food as feces.
Ileocecal valve
A sphincter muscle that prevents backflow of chyme from the cecum to the ileum.
What marks the beginning of the ascending colon?
Cecum
Where are 30% of cancerous tumors found in the colon?
Ascending colon
What are the accessory organs of the digestive system?
liver, gallbladder, pancreas
Where is the liver located?
RUQ
What are the main functional cells of the liver?
hepatocytes
What are three main functions of hepatocytes?
metabolic, endocrine, and secretory functions
All blood that leaves the ____ and ____ passes through and is processed by the ____.
stomach, intestines, liver
Key functions of the liver
metabolizing nutrients to produce energy for the body, bile production, immune factors, cholesterol, protein synthesis, breaking down toxins and bacteria, converting ammonia to urea, removing bilirubin, clotting factor regulation, hemoglobin processing to extract iron, amino acid regulation
About __% of bile secreted from the liver passes from the ___ ____ duct into the ____ via the ____ duct.
75, common hepatic, gallbladder, cystic