Term | Definition |
Internal Anatomy (solid viscera): | liver, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, ovaries and uterus. |
Internal Anatomy (hollow viscera): | stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, colon and bladder. spleen, liver, aorta, pancreas, kidneys. |
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ): | ascending colon, duodenum, gallbladder, right kidney and adrenal, liver, head of pancreas, transverse colon, ureter (right) |
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ): | appendix, ascending colon, bladder, cecum, rectum, right ovary, uterus and tube, prostate and spermatic cord, small intestine, right ureter. |
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ): | descending colon, left kidney, pancreas (body and tail), spleen, stomach, transverse colon, left ureter. |
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ): | bladder, descending colon, ovary, uterus, tube, prostate and spermatic cord, small intestine, sigmoid colon, left ureter. |
Midline: | aorta, uterus, bladder |
Subjective Data - Abdomen: | 1.abdominal pain 2.appetite/nutritional assessment 3.dysphagia 4.food intolerance 5.nausea/vomiting 6.bowel habits (change in bowel function 7.diarrhea/constipation 8.past abdominal history 9.medications |
Subjective Data - Urinary Tract: | 1.suprapubic pain 2.dysuria, urgency or frequency 3.polyuria or nocturia 4.urinary incontinence 5.hematuria 6.kidney or flank pain |
Additional History for Aging Adult: | see power point slide. |
Additional History for Pedi: | Breast or bottle feeding? Table foods. Diet/how often does child eat (24 hour recall) Constipation/wet diapers. Abdominal pain or discomfort. |
Objective Data: | inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpitation. |
Inspection: | 1.Skin (scars, striae, dilated veins, rashes and lesions) 2.Umbilicus 3.Contour (flat, round, protuberant, concave or hollow) 4.Symmetry 5.Peristalsis or pulsations 6.Hair distribution |
Auscultation: | Bowel sounds, note any vascular sounds (bruit and friction rubs). Assessing for hyper (viruses, gas) and hypo (constipation) bowel sounds. |
Percussion: | Percuss all four quadrants. Percuss borders of liver and spleen. Tympany (hyper) - gas and Dullness - fluid and feces. |
Palpitation: | Light palpitation in all four quadrants. Deeper palpitation in all four quadrants. Palpate liver, spleen. Assess kidneys (CVA tenderness) with patient sitting up. |
Avoid disturbing the belly: | inspect and auscultate before you touch the stomach. |
Infant: | Protuberant abdomen/superficial venous pattern. Umbilical hernia (usually disappears by 1 year. Liver fills right upper quadrant (RUQ). Spleen tip and both kidneys palpable. |