Chp 31 Vocab Flashcards
closed abdominal injury
An injury in which there is soft-tissue damage inside the body but the skin remains intact.
evisceration
The displacement of organs outside of the body.
flank
The region below the rib cage and above the hip.
guarding
Involuntary muscle contractions of the abdominal wall to minimize the pain of abdominal movement; a sign of peritonitis.
hematuria
Blood in the urine.
hollow organs
Structures through which materials pass, such as the stomach, small intestines, large intestines, ureters, and urinary bladder.
melena
Black, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood.
open abdominal injury
An injury in which there is a break in the surface of the skin or mucous membrane, exposing deeper tissue to potential contamination.
peritoneal cavity
The abdominal cavity.
peritoneum
The membrane lining the abdominal cavity (parietal peritoneum) and covering the abdominal organs (visceral peritoneum).
retroperitoneum
The potential space located posterior to the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen.
solid organs
Solid masses of tissue where much of the chemical work of the body takes place (eg, the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys).