Abdominal

Question 1

What are the functions of the digestive system?

Answer 1

Elimination of Waste

Absorption of Nutrients and Fluid

Question 2

What is peristalsis?

Answer 2

Contractional movement of intestines to propel food through GI tract.

Question 3

What major subjective data should you collect during health history of abdomen?

Answer 3

1. Food intolerance
2. GI history
3. Nutritional assessment
4. Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
5. Medications

Question 4

What types of diseases should be reported during GI history (health history)?

Answer 4

ulcers

gallbladder disease

hepatitis/jaundice

(just be able to recognize)

Question 5

When collecting data on nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (health history), what follow up questions should you ask?

Answer 5

• Foods ate in last 24 hours?
  
  • Home, school, restaurant?
• Family members experiencing same problems?

Question 6

When collecting subjective data, what do you find out about stool?

Answer 6

1. Bowel elimination (routine and changes)
2. Use of laxitives
3. Stool color/consistency
4. Abdominal pain

Question 7

What important data would indicate a problem for stool consistency and color?

Answer 7

Black/tarry

or

Red Bloody

Question 8

What are the steps for a physical examination for abdominal assessment?

Answer 8

1. Inspection
2. Auscultation
3. Percussion
4. Palpation

(palpation/percussion increase peristalsis: false data)

Question 9

If a patient identifies a painful area, what should be done during the physical exam?

Answer 9

Save the painful area for last

(auscultation/palpation)

Question 10

What objective data should be collected during the inspection of the abdomen?

Answer 10

1. Contour (flat-rounded)
2. Symmetry (symmetric bilaterally)

Question 11

What are these normal contour findings?

Answer 11

1. Flat
2. Rounded

Question 12

What are these abnormal contour findings?

Answer 12

1. Scaphoid
2. Protuberant

Question 13

What are expected findings of the umbilicus?

Answer 13

Midline and inverted

No discoloration (even with piercing)

No hernia

Question 14

What are expected findings of umbilicus when pregnant?

Answer 14

Pushed upward and everted

Question 15

What are expected findings of the stomach?

For a skinny person?

Answer 15

Homogenous color, smooth

Skinny= Veins may be visible

Question 16

What are common (normal) lesions that can occur on the stomach?

Answer 16

• Striae (silvery white)
• Pigmented nevi

Question 17

If an abdominal scar is present when inspecting, what should you do?

Answer 17

• Ask about it
• Draw its location on person’s records

Question 18

What is the normal pubic hair distribution for men and women?

Answer 18

Men= diamond shape

Women= inverted triangle shape

Question 19

If you inspect pulsations of the abdomen,

what do you do?

What could it indicate?

Answer 19

• Report these
• Could be aorta

Question 20

When auscultating, what are these bowel sounds:

• Hypoactive
• Normoactive
• Hyperactive

Answer 20

• Hypoactive= Takes minute to hear
• Normoactive= Sounds every 5-30 seconds
• Hyperactive= sounds every second

Question 21

If there are no bowel sounds when auscultating, what do you do?

Answer 21

Listen to quadrant for up to 5 minutes.

Question 22

Are vascular sounds of the abdomen normal?

Answer 22

Usually no

up to 20% of healthy adults have an abdominal bruit

Question 23

When percussing, what are normal sounds of the abdomin

What are abnormal sounds/when do they occur?

Answer 23

Normal= Resonant

abnormal

• Dullness= Fat/masses
• Hyperresonance= Gas distension
• Ascite= Free fluid in abdomen

Question 24

What are the signs of ascite in the abdomen?

Answer 24

• Fluid wave
• Shifting dullness as person moves

Question 25

When performing palpation, what should the nurse do to promote complete relaxation?

Answer 25

• Start with light palpations.
• Note relaxation when person breathes out
• Save tender areas until last