Surface Anatomy Revisited

Question 1

What is the transpyloric plane?

Answer 1

An imaginary axial plane. Addisons plane

Question 2

How would you locate the transpyloric plane on a patient?

Answer 2

An axial plane located midway between the jugular notch and superior border of the public symphysis at L1.

Question 3

List the structures present in this key anatomical plane (transpyloric plane):

Answer 3

Stomach pyloris

Duodenum

Transverse colon

gallbladder

neck of pancreas

Question 4

Which costal cartilage is the surface marking of the gall bladder?

Answer 4

Behind the anterior end of the 9th costal cartilage

Question 5

Does the liver move with the respiration?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

Where can the gallbladder be found?

Answer 6

At the tip of the 9th costal cartilage in the midclavicular line.

Question 7

What is Murphy’s sign?

Answer 7

Murphy’s sign is elicited in patients with acute cholecystitis by asking the patient to take in and hold a deep breath while palpating the right subcostal area.

If pain occurs on inspiration, when the inflamed gallbladder comes into contact with the examiner’s hand, Murphy’s sign is positive.

Question 8

What does the spleen lie under?

Answer 8

Posterior ribs 9-11 on the left hand side

Question 9

Does the spleen move with respiration?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Which abdominal plane crosses the pancreas

Answer 10

Transplyloric plane

Question 11

What happens if splenomegaly is presented?

Answer 11

The spleen can be palpated during inspiration and the diaphragm moves it down

Question 12

Which part of the pancreas does it pass through?

Answer 12

Bulb/neck of the pancreas