Physical Exams

Question 1

What does a positive Cullen or grey turners sign indicate?

Answer 1

Retroperitoneal hemorrhage and intrabdominal bleeding

Question 2

What does purplish striae indicate?

Answer 2

Cushing disease. The manifestation of excessive corticosteroids within a patient.

Question 3

What is the range of bowel sounds?

Answer 3

5-35 minutes that occur irregularly

Question 4

What are borborygmi?

Answer 4

Loud, prolonged gurgles

Question 5

What does high pitched tinkling sound suggest?

Answer 5

Intestinal fluid and air under pressure, seen in early obstruction

Question 6

What do decreased bowel sounds indicate?

Answer 6

Peritonitis or paralytic ileus

Question 7

What are high pitched sounds associated with?

Answer 7

Friction rubs

Question 8

What is the normal liver span?

Answer 8

6-12cm

Question 9

Where is the spleen for percussion purposes?

Answer 9

Posterior to the midaxillary line, left side, left inferior border between 6 and 10th ribs.

Question 10

If prominent lateral pulsation is present what is that indicative of?

Answer 10

Aortic aneurysm

Question 11

Where is McBurney’s point located?

Answer 11

2 inches from the anterior superior iliac spine on a straight line from the umbilicus

Question 12

How should solid organs sound?

Answer 12

Dull

Question 13

How should hollow organs sound?

Answer 13

Tympany

Question 14

What are jaundice, cyanosis, and ascities associated with?

Answer 14

Physiologic problems

Question 15

What do pearl-like umbilical nodes indicate?

Answer 15

Intraabdominal lymphoma

Question 16

What causes dis tension?

Answer 16

Obesity, enlarged organs, fluid or gas

Question 17

What causes Venus hums?

Answer 17

Increased portal and systemic circulation

Question 18

What do friction rubs indicate?

Answer 18

Inflammation of the peritoneal surface of the organ from a tumor, infection or infarction

Question 19

What does a liver over 2-3cm indicate?

Answer 19

Organ displacement

Question 20

When does rigidity occur?

Answer 20

Over inflamed gallbladder

Question 21

What does pencil like stool indicate?

Answer 21

Cancer

Question 22

What does light tan/gray stool indicate?

Answer 22

Obstructive jaundice

Question 23

What does tarry black stool indicate?

Answer 23

Upper GI bleed

Question 24

What does bright red or maroon stool indicate?

Answer 24

Lower Gi bleed

Question 25

What do tenderness and inflammation of the perianal area indicate?

Answer 25

Access, anorectal fistula or fissure, or polinidal cyst