Living Anatomy (abdomen) Flashcards
What is the mid inguinal point?
The midpoint of a line joining the pubic symphysis and ASIS
What is the transtubercular plane?
A horizontal plane through the right and left iliac tubercle, level L5
What is the subcostal plane?
Horizontal plane across the right and left costal margins in the midaxillary line, level L2/3
What is the transpyloric plane?
Horizontal plane at the level of the tips of the right and left costal cartilages, L1 level
How do you divide the abdomen into 9?
- Midclavicular planes
- Sub-costal plane
- Transtubercular plane
How do you surface mark into 4 quadrants?
- Vertical line through the umbilicus (connecting the xiphisternum and symphysis pubis)
- Horizontal line through the umbilicus
What vertebral level is the xiphisternal joint?
T8/9
What vertebral level is the midpoint between inferior angle of scapula and top if the iliac crest?
T12
What vertebral level is the umbilibus?
L3/4
What vertebral level is the supra-cristal plane?
L4
What vertebral level are the iliac tubercles?
L5
What vertebral level are the ASIS and PSIS?
S2
What vertebral level is the midpoint of the sacroiliac joint?
S2
Describe the outline of the liver
- Point at right 5th rib MCL
- Lower end of sternum
- Left 5th ICS at MCL
- Costal margin at right midaxillary line
Describe how to surface mark the spleen
- Ribs 9, 10 and 11
- From midaxillary line to the lateral border of the erector spinae muscles
List the stages taken when examining the abdomen
- Inspection
- Auscultation
- Light palpation
- Deep palpation
- Percussion
How is the kidney surface landmarked?
- Draw the transpyloric plane (L1 vertebral level)
- Hilum is 4-5cm from the posterior median line
- Inferior pole is 3-4cm above the iliac crests
- Superior pole is covered posteriorly by the 12th ribs
- Kidneys are 9-12cm long and 5-7cm broad
- Ureters extend vertically from the hila to the iliac fossae
Why is the transpyloric plane important?
- Behind it lies the pyloris of the stomach, the 1st part of the duodenum, 1st lumbar vertebra and the origin of the superior mesenteric artery
- Also at the level of the hilum of each kidney
- The level where the rectus abdominis muscle meets the costal margin
Describe the process of palpation of the kidneys
- Bimanual palpation (both hands are used)
- Left hand underneath, right hand used to palpate the upper abdominal wall
- Move the right and left hands up and down and ask the patient to breathe in and out to try and catch the kidney
Where is inflammation of the kidney commonly felt?
- As backache
- If there is a kidney stone, pain can occur due to the ureter trying to push the kidney stone through the narrow constrictions. This pain is called renal colic
