Principles of diagnosis in acute abdominal disease

Question 1

a general rule can be laid down that the majority of severe abdominal pains that ensue in patients who have been previously fairly well, and that last as long as _____, are caused by conditions of surgical import

Answer 1

6 hours

Question 2

what are the specific areas of referred pain from the diaphragm?

Answer 2

• supraspinous fossa
• acromion / clavicle
• subscapular fossa

Question 3

what are the demonstrative and non-demonstrative regions of the peritoneal lining?

Answer 3

• demonstrative: anterior abdominal

- non-demonstrative: pelvis and central part of posterior abdominal wall

Question 4

which part of the peritoneal lining causes reflex muscular rigidity?

Answer 4

demonstrative (anterior)