Hernias Flashcards
What type of pain do you get from visceral stretching, inflammation or ischameia?
Where is it normally experienced?
Diffuse poorly defined
But often felt in the midline
Normally get nausea, vomiting and sweating
What are the 3 areas of viscera of the GI tract?
Foregut viscera
Midgut viscera
Hindgut viscera
Where is pain experienced if theres issue with the foregut viscera?
Epigastric area
Where is pain experienced if theres issue with the midgut viscera?
Peri-umbilical area
Where is pain experienced if theres issue with the hindgut viscera?
Supra-pubic area
Imagine the abdominal as a 3 by 3 grid, what are all the areas of the squares called?
(Look at end of lecture)
Top right = right hyperchondrium
Top middle = Epigastric
Top left = left hyperchondrium
Middle right = right flank
Middle = peri-umbilical
Middle left = left flank
Bottom right = right iliac fossa
Bottoms middle = suprapubic
Bottom left = left iliac
What Dermatomes is pain from the foregut experienced in?
T5-T9
What Dermatomes is pain from the midgut experienced in?
T10-T11
What Dermatomes is pain from the hindgut experienced in?
T12 - L2
What nerve is pain in the foregut associated with?
What spinal nerve roots form this nerve?
Greater splanchnic nerve
T5 - T9
What nerve is pain in the midgut associated with?
What spinal nerve roots form this nerve?
Lesser splanchnic nerve
T10 - T11
What nerve is pain in the hindgut associated with?
What spinal nerve roots form this nerve?
Least splanchnic nerve
T12 - L2
How do the visceral afferent nerves (sensory nerves leading from the organs) relate to the sympathetic nerves supplying the organs?
Follow the same path
Describe the sympathetic outflow of the abdomen:
The preganglionic fibres of T5 - L2 come out of spine, pass through the sympathetic chain, combine to form splanchnic nerves then synapse with pre-vertebral ganglia then lead out to postganglionic fibres ending up at viscera
Describe how the visceral sensory afferent nerves of the viscera run:
Run from organ back to the splanchnic nerves where they then spread across the spinal nerve roots that supply that splanchnic nerves ( that’s why pain from the viscera affects a broad area)
What is a Hernia?
A protrusion of an organ or contents of a cavity extending beyond the normal confines of that cavity through a weakness
What is an abdominal hernia?
Protrusion of part of the abdominal contents beyond the normal confines of the abdominal wall
What is an incarcerated hernia?
Hernia that is stuck (non reducible
What is a reducible hernia?
Hernias that are not stuck and can be pushed back into place
What are the signs and symptoms of a reducible hernia?
Fullness or swelling
Gets larger when intraabdominal pressure increases
Aches
What are the signs and symptoms of incarcerated hernias?
Pain
Non reducible
Nausea and vomiting
Systemic problems if bowel becomes ischaemc
What causes hernias?
Weakness in cavity (congenital, post surgery, normal areas of weakness)
Anything increasing Intra-abdominal pressure (obesity, weightlifting, chronic constipation coughing)
What are the 3 parts to a hernia?
The coverings of the sac
The sac (visceral peritoneum)
Contents of sac (viscera)
What are some weaknesses in the abdominal wall that can lad to hernias?
Inguinal canal
Femoral canal
Umbilicus
Previous incisions (surgery)