30 Questions
Which of the following is a characteristic of pyloric stenosis in a newborn?
Projectile vomiting
What is typically palpable during routine examination in most aortic aneurysms?
A pulsating mass is usually present
When percussing the seventh right intercostal space at the midclavicular line over the liver, which sound should the nurse expect to hear?
Dullness
Which structure is located in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen?
Sigmoid colon
A patient having difficulty swallowing medications and food is documented to have:
Dysphagia
How should the nurse assess for a distended bladder?
Percuss and palpate in the lumbar region
What could black, tarry stool indicate?
Gastrointestinal bleeding
What percussion notes are included in abdominal assessment?
Tympany, hyperresonance, and dullness
What is the significance of tenderness on light palpation in the right lower quadrant?
Appendix disorder
What does abdominal rigidity with acute abdominal condition indicate in older adults?
Less common
What does tympanic percussion note in the umbilical region indicate?
Normal
What could esophageal reflux during pregnancy cause?
Pyrosis
What is pernicious anemia related to?
Decreased gastric acid secretion
What does sharp pain along costovertebral angles indicate?
Kidney inflammation
What does ascites indicate?
Presence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity
What is deep palpation during abdominal assessment used for?
To determine enlarged organs
What is the condition of abdominal musculature in older adults?
Thinner and has less tone
How do older adults with acute abdominal conditions often complain about pain compared to younger people?
Less
What does a protuberant abdomen indicate?
A bulging and stretched abdomen
What are normal abdominal assessment findings?
Soft, non-tender abdomen with positive bowel sounds
What is the cause of hypoactive bowel sounds?
Peritonitis
What should be avoided in cases of suspected spleen injury?
Palpating an enlarged spleen
What are normal abdominal aortic pulsations?
Between xiphoid process and umbilicus
What is the term for hyperactive bowel sounds felt as stomach growling?
Borborygmi
What decreases with aging, leading to decreased salivation and delayed esophageal emptying?
Gastric acid secretion
What is the term for a concave abdomen from a horizontal plane?
Scaphoid
What precedes percussion and palpation of the abdomen to prevent distortion of bowel sounds?
Auscultation
What is the term for high-pitched, gurgling, and irregular bowel sounds originating from the small intestine?
Bowel sounds
What does abdominal borborygmi indicate?
Hyperperistalsis
What should be avoided to prevent rupture in cases of suspected spleen injury?
Palpating an enlarged spleen
Study Notes
Abdominal Assessment: Key Points
- Dull percussion sounds and firm palpation over midline area indicate a distended bladder.
- Gastric acid secretion decreases with aging, leading to decreased salivation, delayed esophageal emptying, and decreased liver size.
- In cases of suspected spleen injury, an enlarged spleen should not be palpated to avoid rupture.
- A bulging and stretched abdomen is described as protuberant, not obese, herniated, or scaphoid.
- A scaphoid contour of the abdomen is concave from a horizontal plane.
- Abdominal pulsations between xiphoid process and umbilicus are normal abdominal aortic pulsations.
- Hypoactive bowel sounds can be caused by peritonitis, paralytic ileus, or late bowel obstruction.
- Auscultation precedes percussion and palpation of the abdomen to prevent distortion of bowel sounds.
- Bowel sounds are high-pitched, gurgling, and irregular, originating from the small intestine.
- Borborygmi refers to hyperactive bowel sounds, felt as stomach growling.
- Normal abdominal assessment findings include soft, non-tender abdomen with positive bowel sounds.
- Abdominal borborygmi indicates hyperperistalsis, not a friction rub or hypoactive bowel sounds.
Test your knowledge of abdominal assessment key points with this quiz. Explore terms such as distended bladder, gastric acid secretion, splenic injury, protuberant abdomen, scaphoid contour, abdominal pulsations, hypoactive bowel sounds, and borborygmi.
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