Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physical Diagnosis > Abdominal Exam > Flashcards

Abdominal Exam Flashcards

(69 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What are the 4 abdominal quadrants?

A
  1. RUQ
  2. LUQ
  3. RLQ
  4. LLQ
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the nine abdominal sections?

A
  1. R Epigastric
  2. Middle Epigastric
  3. L Epigastric
  4. R Umbilical
  5. Middle Umbilical
  6. L umbilical
  7. R hypogastric
  8. Middle Hypogastric
  9. L hypogastric
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what condition is asst. with abdominal fullness or early satiety?

A

Gastroparesis asst. with diabetes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define Heartburn

A

a burning sensation in the epigastric area radiating into the throat; often associated with regurgitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define excessive gas or flatus

A

needing to belch or pass gas by the rectum; patients often state they feel bloated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Define anorexia

A

lack of an appetite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Define regurgitation

A

the reflux of food and stomach acid back into the mouth; brine-like taste

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define the physiology of retching

A

spasmodic movement of the chest and diaphragm like vomiting, but no stomach contents are passed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What additional questions need to be asked about a vomiting pt?

A
  1. AMount of vomit

2. Type of vomit: food, green- or yellow-colored bile, mucus, blood, coffee ground emesis (often old blood)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Define hematemesis

A

Blood or coffee ground emesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe Visceral pain etiology

A

when hollow organs (stomach, colon) forcefully contract or become distended. Solid organs (liver, spleen) can also generate this type of pain when they swell against their capsules.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the descriptors for visceral pain?

A

Visceral pain is usually gnawing, cramping, or aching and is often difficult to localize (hepatitis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the etiology of parietal pain

A

when there is inflammation from the hollow or solid organs that affect the parietal peritoneum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the descriptors for parietal pain?

A

Parietal pain is more severe than visceral and is usually easily localized (appendicitis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the etiology of referred pain

A

originates at different sites but shares innervation from the same spinal level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where is referred pain from the gallbladder felt?

A

Shoulder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where is referred pain from pancreatitis felt?

A

back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where is pain from the biliary tree and liver felt?

A

RUQ or epigastric

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Where is pain from the rectum felt?

A

Suprapubic or sacral region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where is pain from the colon, bladder or uterus felt?

A

Hypogastric region. Colon pain may be diffuse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where is pain from the SI, appendix, or proximal colon felt?

A

Perilumbar region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Where is pain from the stomach, duodenum, or pancreas felt?

A

epigastric region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What questions need to be asked about BMs?

A
  1. Frequency
  2. Consistency (diarrhea vs. constipation)
  3. Any pain
  4. Any blood (hematochezia, usually hemorrhoids) or black, tarry stool (melena: usually GI bleed)
  5. color
  6. Look for any associated signs such as jaundice or icteric sclerae
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What does melena indicate?

A

GI bleed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What does hematochezia indicate?
Hemorrhoids
26
What do white or grey stools indicate?
white or gray stools can indicate liver or gallbladder disease
27
What questions need to be asked about the GU tract?
1. frequency and urgency 2. dysuria (burning at the urethra or aching in the suprapubic area of the bladder) 3. color and smell of the urine; red urine usually means hematuria 4. Ask about difficulty starting to urinate (especially in men) or the leakage of urine (incontinence, especially in women) 5. Ask about back pain at the costovertebral angle (kidney) and in the lower back in men
28
Where is prostate pain referred to?
lower back
29
What is painless hematuria until proven otherwise?
Bladder cancer
30
What are you looking for when inspecting abdominal skin?
scars, striae (stretch marks), vein pattern, hair distribution, rashes, or lesions
31
What are you looking for when inspecting the umbilicus?
observe contour and location and any signs of an umbilical hernia
32
What are you looking for when inspecting the contour of the abdomen?
flat, rounded, protuberant, or scaphoid, symmetry
33
What are you looking for when inspecting the movements of the abdomen?
Inspect for signs of peristalsis (rhythmic movement of the intestine that can be seen in thin people) and pulsations (within blood vessels such as the aorta)
34
What order is used when assessing the abdomen?
Inspection Ascultation percussion palpation
35
What side of the stethoscope is used to hear bowel sounds?
diaphragm
36
How long must one listen for bowel sounds until they are considered absent?
2 mins
37
Where must one listen for abdominal bruits?
1. Aorta (midline) 2. Renal arteries ( above umbilicus off midline) 3. Bifurcation of common iliac arteries (below umbilicus off midline) 4. Hepatic
38
What does a hepatic bruit indicate?
suggests heptocellular carcinoma or alcoholic hepatitis
39
What does a hepatic venous hum indicate?
suggest portal hypertension
40
What is the normal sound when percussing over the abdomen?
tympany (hollow sounds)
41
What does dullness to percussion indicate?
a large stool or a mass
42
How does one percuss out the liver?
1. Lower border: start below umbilicus (tympanic) and percuss upward in right MCL or MSL until liver dullness 2. Upper border: start from lung resonance in MCL or MSL and percuss downward to liver dullness Measure span:
43
What are the normal ranges for liver span?
males 8-12 cm, | females 6-10 cm
44
How do you determine shifting dullness?
Determine the border of tympany and dullness by percussion in supine position, beginning at the umbilicus and moving laterally (mark the spot with a pen). Repeat percussion in the same direction with the patient rolled to that same side.
45
What are the normal results of shifting dullness?
Margin does not move
46
What are the results of shifting dullness when ascites is present?
In the presence of ascites, the tympany-dullness margin will move “upward” (toward the umbilicus) as the ascitic fluid pools in the dependent side of the peritoneal cavity.
47
What does a fluid wave indicate?
Ascites
48
How is a fluid wave determined?
1. Ask the patient to place the ulnar side of his/her hand in the midline of the abdomen (this prevents a false positive due to the patient’s fat and flatus) 2. Tap on lateral side of abdomen and assess the transmission of a wave to contralateral side using the other hand – if the fluid thrill can be palpated by this hand, the abdominal distension is likely due to ascites
49
When performing light palpation, how do you assess voluntary guarding?
Tell the patient to breathe out deeply | Tell the patient to breathe through the mouth with the jaw dropped open
50
How do you differentiate between voluntary and involuntary guarding?
1. patient consciously flinches when you touch him | 2. muscles spasm when you touch the patient, but he cannot control the reaction
51
What are you looking for when performing light palpation?
superficial organs or masses
52
What is rebound tenderness indicative of?
inflammatory disorder: peritonitis, appendicitis
53
Define rebound tenderness
Rebound tenderness occurs if pain increases when the examiner decreases the pressure against the abdomen
54
How is the liver palpated?
1. Using the left hand to support the back at the level of the 11th and 12th rib, the right hand presses on the abdomen inferior to the border of the liver and continues to palpate superiorly until the liver border is palpated. 2. Ask the patient to take a deep breath. This can illicit pain in liver or gallbladder disease and also makes it easier to find the inferior border of the liver (the diaphragm lowering during deep inspiration forces the liver downward).
55
When is the spleen palpable?
Splenomegaly
56
What is costovertebral angle tenderness indicative of?
pyelonephritis until proven otherwise
57
what is protuberant abdomen with bulging flanks is suspicious for?
Ascites
58
What conditions can cause ascites
cancer
59
What special tests are used for appendicitis assessment?
1. Check for involuntary guarding and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant 2. Perform a rectal examination in both sexes and a pelvic examination in women 3. Check for Rovsing’s sign 4. Check for Psoas sign 5. Check for the Obturator sign
60
What is Rovsing's sign and what is it used for?
1. rebound tenderness in the left lower quadrant | 2. Appendicitis assessment
61
What is the Psoas sign and what is it used for?
1. the patient flexes his thigh against the examiner’s hand; pain indicates a positive sign 2. Appendicitis
62
What is the obturator sign and what is it used for?
1. flex the patient’s thigh and rotate the leg internally at the hip; pain indicates a positive sign 2. Appendicitis
63
What is the Carnett's sign and what is it used for?
1. Abdominal pain/tenderness exascerbated when pt lifts feet above bed without bending knees 2. Positive: Source of pain is abdominal wall (strain/sprain/hernia) bc stretching of wall worsens any lesion within 3. Negative: source of pain is inside abdominal cavity bc stabilizing abdominal wall protects the organs within
64
What is the Kehr's sign and what is it used for?
1. left shoulder pain exacerbated by elevating foot of bed: referred pain, diaphragmatic involvement 2. Splenic rupture
65
What is the Grey-Turner's sign and what is it used for?
1. Blue discooration of the flank area caused by retoperitoneal hemorrhage 2. Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, ruptured abdominal aneurysm, strangulated bowel
66
What is the Cullen's sign and what is it used for?
1. Blue discooration of the periumbilical area caused by retoperitoneal hemorrhage tracking around to anterior abdominal wall 2. Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, ectopic pregnancy
67
What is the Courvoisier's sign and what is it used for?
1. Painless, palpable distended gallbladder | 2. Pancreatic cancer
68
What is the Murphy's sign and what is it used for?
1. Hand contact with gallbladder elicits pain, arrest of deep inspiration on RUQ pain 2. Cholecystitis
69
What is the McBurney's sign and what is it used for?
1. Tenderness at McBUrney's point (1/3 along the line extending from ASIS to umbilicus) 2. Appendicitis

Physical Diagnosis (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions