Assessment of Abdomen Flashcards
Begins digestion through chewing, salivating, and swallowing
Mouth
Provides sense of taste
Tongue
Parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands purose?
Produce saliva
Keeps food and fluid from being aspirated into the airway (trachea) by closing over the larynx when food is swallowed.
Epiglottis
Pharynx consists of the
naso-pharynx
oropharynx
laryngopharynx
Allows the passage of food from the mouth to the esophagus
Pharynx
Assists in swallowing
Secretes mucus, which aids digestion
Pharynx
Moves food from the pharynx to the stomach using ____.
peristalsis
Hollow, muscular tube that’s approximately 10” (25.5 cm) long
Esophagus
Dilated, saclike structure that lies obliquely in the left upper quadrant
Stomach
Stomach’s sphincters
cardiac sphincter
the pyloric sphincter
the sphincter, which protects the entrance to the stomach.
cardiac sphincter
a sphincter, which guards the exit of the stomach.
the pyloric sphincter
True or False: The stomach stores food and mixes it with gastric juices, then passes chyme into the small intestine for further digestion and absorption.
True
an Accordion-like folds in the stomach lining and allows stomach to expand.
Rugae
Small intestine, Consists of the:
duodenum
jejunum
ileum
Location of carbohydrate, fat, and protein breakdown and absorbs the end products of digestion..
Small Intestine
Fingerlike projection that’s attached to the cecum
Vermiform appendix
Large intestine, Consists of the:
cecum; ascending, transverse, descending.
sigmoid colons; rectum; and anus
Which organ in the digestive system absorbs excess water and electrolytes, stores food residue, and eliminates waste products in the form of feces?
Large Intestine
_____ normally remains closed to prevent the reflux of gastric contents and opens during swallowing, belching, and vomiting.
The gastroesophageal sphincter
After food enters the stomach, it remains there for approximately how many hours before moving on to the small intestine?
3 or 4 hours
Secretes bile, a greenish fluid that helps digest fats and absorb fatty acids, cholesterol, and other lipids and gives stools their color.
Liver
what organ converts ammonia to urea for excretion?
Liver
Which organ metabolizes carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, detoxifies blood, and synthesizes plasma proteins, nonessential amino acids, vitamins, and essential nutrients?
Liver
Stores bile from the liver until the bile empties into the duodenum.
Gall Bladder
What is the typical length range of the pancreas, measuring from approximately ____________ to ____________?
611 to 8” (15 to 20.5 cm)
Releases insulin and glycogen into the loodstream and produces enzymes that aid in digestion.
Pancreas
Enumerate the components of the bile ducts:
Hepatic ducts: drain bile from the liver
Cystic duct: drains bile from the gallbladder
Common bile duct: receives bile from the hepatic and cystic ducts and empties bile into the duodenum
drain bile from the liver
Hepatic ducts
drains bile from the gallbladder
Cystic duct
receives bile from the hepatic and cystic ducts and empties bile into the duodenum.
Common bile duct
RUQ
- Right lobe of the liver
- Gallbladder
Pylorus - Duodenum
■ Head of the pancreas
■ Hepatic flexure of the colon
■ Portions of the transverse
and ascending colon
LUQ
- Left lobe of the liver
- Spleen
- Stomach
■ Body and tail of the
pancreas
■ Splenic flexure of the colon
■ Portions of the transverse
and descending colon
RLQ
- Cecum and appendix
■ Portion of the ascending
colon
LLQ
■ Sigmoid colon
■ Portion of the descending
colon
When considering health history, what factor should be taken into account regarding the patient’s background, especially in relation to conditions such as gastric cancer and Crohn’s disease?
Ethnic background
how to obtaining a health history
*Asking about past health
*Asking about current health
✓Gnawing problems
✓Travel plans
*Family history
*Asking about psychosocial health
Family history: Disorders with a familial link include:
✓ulcerative colitis
✓colorectal cancer
✓peptic ulcers
✓gastric cancer
✓alcoholism
✓Crohn’s disease
What are some key steps to ensure patient comfort and relaxation during abdominal assessment?
Ask the patient to empty their bladder.
Drape the genitalia and, if applicable, the breasts of female patients.
Place a small pillow under the patient’s knees to relax the abdominal muscles.
Instruct the patient to keep their arms at their sides.
Maintain a warm room temperature to prevent muscle tension.
Warm your hands and the stethoscope head.
Speak softly and encourage the patient to use breathing exercises or imagery for comfort.
Have the patient point to any areas of pain.
Assess painful areas last to minimize muscle tension.
Ask the patient to empty their bladder.
Drape the genitalia and, if applicable, the breasts of female patients.
Place a small pillow under the patient’s knees to relax the abdominal muscles.
Instruct the patient to keep their arms at their sides.
Maintain a warm room temperature to prevent muscle tension.
Warm your hands and the stethoscope head.
Speak softly and encourage the patient to use breathing exercises or imagery for comfort.
Have the patient point to any areas of pain.
Assess painful areas last to minimize muscle tension.
What are the steps for abdominal assessment, particularly focusing on palpation and observation?
Palpate the abdomen, checking for tenderness, lumps, dullness, or masses.
Note the patient’s abdominal shape and contour.
Assess the umbilicus, which should be inverted and located in the abdominal midline.
Identification Question:
What does the presence of visible rippling waves of peristalsis in the abdomen potentially signal, and what action should be taken if such a finding is observed?
It may signal a bowel obstruction, and such a finding should be reported immediately.
Abdomen Shape
Normal
Pregnancy
Ascites
Fatty Abdomen
When auscultating for vascular sounds in the abdomen, what technique should be used, and which arteries should be listened to using firm pressure with the bell of the stethoscope?
Answer: Auscultate over the aorta, renal, iliac, and femoral arteries using firm pressure with the bell of the stethoscope.
During auscultation of the abdomen, where should the diaphragm of the stethoscope be placed, and in what pattern should auscultation be performed in each quadrant?
Lightly place the diaphragm of the stethoscope in the RLQ, slightly below and to the right of the umbilicus. Auscultate in a clockwise fashion in each of the four quadrants.
is a vascular sound similar to a heart murmur caused by turbulent blood flow through a narrowed artery
bruit ha ha
A bruit is a vascular sound similar to a heart murmur caused by turbulent blood flow through a narrowed artery. It may be heard in patients with what condition(s)?
hypertension or arterial stenosis, occasionally limited to systole in the epigastric region.
Why is percussion of the abdomen contraindicated in patients with a suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm or a transplanted abdominal organ?
Percussion can dislodge blood clots in an aneurysm or damage a transplanted organ, potentially leading to rupture or rejection.
when percussing the abdomen, it describes two techniques for percussing the abdomen: direct and indirect. What is the purpose of using percussion on the abdomen?
to detect the size and location of abdominal organs,
the presence of air or fluid within the abdomen, stomach, or bowel.
A clear, hollow sound similar to a drum beating heard during abdominal percussion indicates what?
Tympany, which suggests air-filled organs like an empty stomach or bowel.
A dull sound heard during abdominal percussion suggests what lies beneath the percussed area?
Solid organs like the liver, kidney, or feces-filled intestines.
During abdominal percussion, a dull sound is heard over the liver instead of a clear, hollow drum-like sound. Considering tympany indicates air, what likely lies beneath this area?
This dull sound suggests a solid organ like the liver itself, rather than an air-filled organ like the stomach or intestines.
What sound indicates the upper border of the liver during percussion?
A change from a clear, hollow sound (resonance) to a dull sound.
Where do you start percussing to locate the upper border of the liver?
In the right midclavicular line, within the area where a lung sound (resonance) is heard.
How do you locate the lower border of the liver?
Starting below the umbilicus in the right midclavicular line, percuss upwards until the sound changes from a hollow sound (tympany) to a dull sound.
What does the distance between the upper and lower borders represent?
This distance represents the liver span.
What is considered a normal liver span in adults based on this method?
A normal liver span in adults ranges from 2½” to 4¾” (6.5 to 12 cm)
How can you estimate liver size.
By measuring the distance between two marks made during liver percussion.
What’s the normal liver span in adults for each percussion location?
Midsternal line:
Right midclavicular line:
Midsternal line: 4-8 cm
Right midclavicular line: 6-12 cm
Compare the measured distance to the normal range for the assumed percussion location (midsternal or right midclavicular line).
Within normal range: If the distance falls within the expected range, the liver size is likely normal based on this technique.
Outside normal range: If the distance is less than the expected range, the liver may be smaller than usual. If it’s greater, the liver may be enlarged.
Spleen Location:
The spleen is situated around the 10th rib in the left midaxillary line (referring to the left side, midway between the armpit and hip).