Physical Assessment: Abdomen Inspection

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Questions and Answers

What is a characteristic finding in liver disease or portal hypertension?

Peristaltic waves on the abdominal surface

Dilated surface arterioles and capillaries with a central star (correct)

Aortic pulsations on the abdominal surface

Keloids from surgery

What is a possible cause of dark bluish-pink striae on the abdominal skin?

Liver disease

Cushing's syndrome (correct)

Kidney disease

Pancreatitis

What is a possible cause of distention below the umbilicus?

Feces accumulation

Full bladder (correct)

Flatulence

Fibroids

What is a possible cause of a generalized protuberant or distended abdomen?

Air or fluid accumulation Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible cause of upper abdominal distention?

Masses of the pancreas Signup and view all the answers

What are the '6 Fs' that are sometimes referred to as major causes of abdominal distention?

Fat, fetus, fibroids, flatulence, feces, and fluid Signup and view all the answers

What does tenderness or sharp pain elicited over the CVA suggest?

Kidney infection or renal calculi Signup and view all the answers

What is involuntary reflex guarding a sign of?

Peritoneal irritation Signup and view all the answers

What can a hard, firm liver indicate?

Liver cancer Signup and view all the answers

What is a palpable spleen a sign of?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What does a wide, bounding pulse in the abdominal aorta indicate?

Abdominal aortic aneurysm Signup and view all the answers

What is an enlarged kidney a sign of?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What does nasal flaring indicate?

Labored respirations, especially in small children Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of pursed lip breathing?

To slow down expiration and keep alveoli open longer Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by a ruddy to purple complexion?

COPD or CHF Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of cyanosis in white skin?

Appears blue-tinged, especially in the perioral, nailbed, and conjunctival areas Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of scoliosis in the thoracic area?

Respiratory implications Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of early clubbing?

A 180-degree angle Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physical Assessment: Abdomen

Blunt percussion on the liver and kidneys can indicate tenderness or sharp pain, suggesting kidney infection, renal calculi, or hydronephrosis
Light palpation of the four quadrants of the abdomen can detect involuntary reflex guarding, which may indicate peritoneal irritation
Right-sided guarding may be due to cholecystitis
Deep palpation of all quadrants can help delineate abdominal organs and detect subtle masses
Severe tenderness or pain may be related to trauma, peritonitis, infection, tumors, or enlarged or diseased organs

Palpation of Abdominal Organs

A wide, bounding pulse may be felt with an abdominal aortic aneurysm
A hard, firm liver may indicate cancer
Enlargement of the liver may be due to hepatitis, liver tumors, or cirrhosis
An enlarged kidney may be due to a cyst, tumor, or hydronephrosis
A palpable spleen suggests enlargement, which may result from trauma, chronic blood disorders, or cancers
A distended bladder is palpated as a smooth, round, and somewhat firm mass extending as far as the umbilicus

General Inspection

Nasal flaring and pursed lip breathing may indicate labored respirations or hypoxia
Ruddy to purple complexion may be seen in COPD or CHF due to polycythemia
Cyanosis may be seen in clients who are cold or hypoxic, appearing blue-tinged in the perioral, nailbed, and conjunctival areas
Pale or cyanotic nails may be seen with hypoxia, leading to early or late clubbing

Posterior Thorax

Scoliosis may have respiratory implications due to spinal configurations

Abdominal Inspection

Dilated veins may be seen with cirrhosis of the liver, obstruction of the inferior vena cava, portal hypertension, or ascites
Spider angioma may be seen with liver disease or portal hypertension
Dark bluish-pink striae are associated with Cushing's syndrome or ascites, which stretches the skin
Keloids result from trauma or surgery

Abdominal Contour

Generalized protuberant or distended abdomen may be due to obesity, air or gas accumulation, or fluid accumulation
Distention below the umbilicus may be due to a full bladder
Distention of the upper abdomen may be seen with masses of the pancreas or gastric dilation
Major causes of abdominal distention are referred to as the "6 Fs": Fat, feces, fetus, fibroids, flatulence, and fluid

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Description

Assess your knowledge of abdominal inspection in physical assessment, including observation of skin coloration, vascularization, scars, rashes, and lesions. Topics include cirrhosis of the liver, portal hypertension, and ascites.