ABDOMINAL ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Contour

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Symmetry (also note for
protrusions, bulging or lumps with
client supine & with client’s head
raised)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Umbilicus (note color, location &
contour)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Aortic pulsations

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Peristaltic waves

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

AUSCULTATION
- Bowel sounds (note character &
frequency)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

AUSCULTATION
- Vascular sounds & friction rubs (note
for bruits, venous hums & friction
rubs over liver & spleen)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

AREAS TO ASSESS FOR VASCULAR SOUNDS &
FRICTION RUBS
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

ABDOMINAL PERCUSSION SEQUENCES
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION
- Liver span

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

NORMAL LIVER SPAN
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PALPATION
- Liver (note consistency, tenderness,
enlargement & presence of nodules)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

BIMANUAL TECHNIQUE
HOOKING TECHNIQUE
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PALPATION
- Masses (if palpated, note
location, size in cm,
shape, consistency,
demarcation, pulsatility,
tenderness & mobility)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 SAMPLE DOCUMENTATION:

Masses palpated: None (Normal Finding)

 Page 18 Abdomen Your Logo PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION & PALPATION

- Kidneys (note tenderness on blunt
percussion; if enlarged on
palpation, note consistency &
presence of nodules)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

BLUNT PERCUSSION OF KIDNEYS
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION & PALPATION

- Urinary bladder (note tenderness &
consistency)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

INSPECTION
- Abdominal
Girth

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION
- Shifting dullness (note areas of
tympany & dullness with each
position change)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

ASSESSING SHIFTING DULLNESS
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PERCUSSION
- Fluid wave test (note transmission
of fluid waves)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

FLUID WAVE TEST
 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PALPATION
- Rebound tenderness

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PALPATION
- Psoas sign (note presence of
abdominal pain)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

 ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN

PALPATION
- Obturator sign (note presence of
abdominal pain)

Abdomen PHYSICAL EXAMINATION