Nurs 208 - Abdomen Flashcards
What is the abdomen?
a large oval cavity extending from the diaphragm down to the brim of the pelvis.
It is bordered in back by the vertebral column and paravertebral muscles and at the sides and front by the lower rib cage and abdominal muscles.
The _____ _____ are those that maintain a characteristic shape:
Solid Viscera
liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, ovaries, and uterus
The _____ fills most of the upper quadrant and extends over to the left midclavicular line
Liver
The lower edge of the ____ and the ____ _____ may normally be palpable
Liver
Right Kidney
The _____ normally are palpable only on bimanual assessment during the pelvic examination
ovaries
The shape of the hollow viscera depends on the contents:
stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, bladder
True or False. The hollow viscera are usually palpable
False. They are usually not palpable, although you might feel a colon distended with feces or a bladder distended with urine
How many quadrants is the abdominal wall divided into?
The abdominal wall is divided into FOUR quadrants by vertical and horizontal lines that cross at the umbilicus.
The Right Upper Quadrant contains:
o The liver o The gallbladder o The duodenum o The head of the pancreas o The right kidney and adrenal gland o The hepatic flexure of the colon o Part of the ascending and transverse colon
The Left Upper Quadrant contains:
o The stomach o The spleen o The left lobe of the liver o The body of the pancreas o The left kidney and adrenal gland o The splenic flexure of the colon o Part of the transverse and descending colon
The Right Lower Quadrant contains:
o The cecum
o The appendix
o The right ureter
o The right ovary and fallopian tube (in women) or the right spermatic cord (in men)
The Left Lower Quadrant contains:
o A part of the descending colon
o The sigmoid colon
o The left ureter
o The left ovary and fallopian tube (in women), or the left spermatic cord (in men)
Additional structures lie in the midline of the abdomen, including:
o The aorta
o The bladder (if distended)
o The uterus (if enlarged in women)
Abdomen Assessment
Subjective Data
o Appetite - Any changes in appetite? Is it increased or Decreased?
o Dysphagia (or difficulty swallowing)
o Food intolerances - Are there any foods you cannot eat? What happens when you eat them: allergic reaction, heartburn, belching, bloating, indigestion?
o Abdominal pain - Please point to it (Know the different types)
o Nausea and vomiting
o Bowel habits and the use of laxatives - How often do you have a bowel movement?
o Past abdominal history - Any history of gastrointestinal problems: ulcer, gallbladder disease, hepatitis/jaundice, appendicitis, colitis, hernia?
o Any current medications
o Alcohol and tobacco - How much alcohol would you say you drink each day? Each week? When was your most recent alcoholic drink?
o Nutrition - Now I would like to ask you about your diet. Please tell me all of the food you ate yesterday, starting with breakfast (24 hour diet recall)
Additional History for Infants and Children
Feeding Infants - Are you breastfeeding or formula feeding the baby? If formula feeding, how does the baby tolerate the formula?
Table foods - What table foods have you introduced? How does the infant tolerate the food?
Eating patterns - How often does your child eat? Does your child eat regular meals?
Constipation - Does your child have constipation? How long?
Abdominal pain - Does the child have abdominal pain? Please describe what you have noticed and when it started
