Sherpath: Chapter 22, Abdomen: Assessing the Abdomen

Question 1 of 15

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When inspecting the surface of the abdomen, which aspect of contour should be assessed?

• • Skin textureSkin texture is not inspected when contour is assessed.
• • Visibility of pubic bonesWhen contour of the abdomen is assessed, the visibility of pubic bones is not considered.
• • Abdominal profile from naval to lateral sideWhen the contour of the abdomen is assessed, the profile from the naval to lateral side is not considered.
• Correct
  • Abdominal profile from rib margin to pubisWhen the surface of the abdomen is assessed, the abdominal profile from the rib margin to the pubis should be inspected, viewed on the horizontal plane.

Question 2 of 15

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Which region of the body is assessed in the upper middle region (region 1) of the abdomen?

• Correct
  • EpigastricThe epigastric region is assessed in the upper middle region of the abdomen (region 1).
• • UmbilicalThe umbilical region is in the center of the abdomen (region 2), not the upper middle region.
• • HypogastricThe hypogastric region is in the lower middle region of the abdomen (region 3), not the upper middle region.
• • Left hypochondriacThe left hypochondriac region is in the upper left region of the abdomen (region 4), not the upper middle region.

Question 3 of 15

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Which elements of a patient’s abdomen should be assessed on inspection?

• Correct
  • MovementThe movement of the abdomen would be assessed on inspection.
• Correct
  • ContourThe contour of the abdomen would be assessed on inspection.
• • Bowel soundsBowel sounds would be auscultated, not inspected.
• • Skin temperatureSkin temperature would be palpated, not inspected.
• Correct
  • Surface characteristicsThe surface characteristics of the abdomen would be assessed on inspection.

Question 4 of 15

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Over which abdominal region should the nurse auscultate to assess for a venous hum?

• • UmbilicalThe nurse would not auscultate the umbilical region of the abdomen to assess for a venous hum.
• • Left hypochondriacThe nurse would not auscultate the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen to assess for a venous hum.
• • Right inguinalThe nurse would not auscultate the right inguinal region of the abdomen to assess for a venous hum.
• Correct
  • EpigastricThe nurse would auscultate the epigastric region of the abdomen to assess for a venous hum.

Question 5 of 15

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Over which region should the nurse auscultate to assess for bruits?

• • UmbilicalThe nurse would not auscultate the umbilical region of the abdomen to assess for bruits.
• • Left hypochondriacThe nurse would not auscultate the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen to assess for bruits.
• • Right inguinalThe nurse would not auscultate the right inguinal region of the abdomen to assess for bruits.
• Correct
  • EpigastricThe nurse would auscultate the epigastric region of the abdomen to assess for bruits.

Question 6 of 15

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Over which abdominal regions should the nurse auscultate to assess for friction rubs?

• Correct
  • 1Friction rubs are auscultated over the epigastric region, or region 1 in the image.
• • 3Friction rubs are not auscultated over the hypogastric region, or region 3 in the image.
• • 6Friction rubs are not auscultated over the right lumbar region, or region 6 in the image.
• • 9Friction rubs are not auscultated over the left inguinal region, or region 9 in the image.

Question 7 of 15

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At which abdominal landmark would the nurse begin percussing the liver?

• • Umbilical ringThe nurse would not begin percussing the liver at the umbilical ring.
• • Costal marginThe nurse would not begin percussing the liver at the costal margin.
• Correct
  • Right midclavicular lineThe nurse would begin percussing the liver at the right midclavicular line.
• • Superior margin of os pubisThe nurse would not begin percussing the liver at the superior margin of os pubis.

Question 8 of 15

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At which abdominal area would the nurse begin percussing the spleen?

• • Anterosuperior iliac spineThe nurse would not begin percussing the spleen at the anterosuperior iliac spine.
• • Anterior to the midclavicular lineThe nurse would not begin percussing the spleen anterior to the midclavicular line.
• Correct
  • Posterior to the left midaxillary lineThe nurse would begin percussing the spleen posterior to the left midaxillary line.
• • Right of the xiphoid process of the sternumThe nurse would not begin percussing the spleen to the right of the xiphoid process of the sternum.

Question 9 of 15

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Liver size can be assessed through percussion by evaluating which characteristics?

• • Liver weightThe weight of the liver is not assessed by percussion.
• • Liver toneThe tone heard on percussion does not determine liver size.
• Correct
  • Liver spanThe nurse should assess liver span by percussing the upper and lower borders.
• • Liver circumferenceThe circumference of the liver is not assessed by percussion.
• Correct
  • Extent of liver projectionThe nurse should assess the extent of liver projection by percussion below the costal margin.

Question 10 of 15

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On palpation, which features of detected masses can be assessed?

• Correct
  • SizeThe size of detected masses can be assessed by palpation.
• Correct
  • ShapeThe shape of detected masses can be assessed by palpation.
• Correct
  • PulsationThe pulsation of detected masses can be assessed by palpation.
• Correct
  • MobilityThe mobility of detected masses can be assessed by palpation.
• • Surface textureThe surface texture of detected masses is not assessed by palpation.
• Correct
  • Movement with respirationThe movement of detected masses with respiration can be assessed by palpation.

Question 11 of 15

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Which structure is palpated below the liver margin at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle?

• • SpleenThe spleen is not palpated below the liver margin at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
• • PancreasThe pancreas is not palpated below the liver margin at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
• Correct
  • GallbladderThe gallbladder is palpated below the liver margin at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.
• • Left kidneyThe left kidney is not palpated below the liver margin at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis muscle.

Question 12 of 15

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The image demonstrates palpation of which abdominal structure?

• Correct
  • KidneyThe image shows a nurse palpating the patient’s kidney.
• • PancreasThe image does not show a nurse palpating the patient’s pancreas.
• • LiverThe image does not show a nurse palpating the patient’s liver.
• • StomachThe image does not show a nurse palpating the patient’s stomach.

Question 13 of 15

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Which signs indicate peritoneal inflammation on assessment?

• • Boggy abdomen on palpationBogginess on palpation does not indicate peritoneal inflammation.
• Correct
  • Rebound tendernessRebound tenderness can indicate peritoneal inflammation.
• • Dull note on percussionDull note on percussion does not indicate peritoneal inflammation.
• • Pulsations on inspectionPulsations on inspection do not indicate peritoneal inflammation.
• • McBurney signMcBurney sign refers to rebound tenderness over McBurney’s point in the LRQ, which suggests appendicitis, but it does not indicate peritoneal inflammation.

Question 14 of 15

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Which technique to identify an abdominal organ or mass is illustrated in the image?

• Correct
  • BallottementBallottement is a technique used to assess a mass and is illustrated in the image.
• • Obturator muscle testThe obturator muscle test should be performed if the nurse suspects a ruptured appendix or pelvic mass, but it is not illustrated in the image.
• • McBurney signMcBurney sign refers to rebound tenderness over McBurney’s point in the LRQ, which suggests appendicitis, but it is not illustrated in the image.
• • Iliopsoas muscle testThe iliopsoas muscle test should be performed if the nurse suspects appendicitis but is not illustrated in the image.

Question 15 of 15

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Which tool is the most widely accepted tool for assessing acute appendicitis?

• • Ohmann scoreThe Ohmann score is a tool to assess abdominal pain but is not the most widely accepted.
• Correct
  • Alvarado scoreThe Alvarado score (also known as the MANTRELS [Migration of pain, Anorexia, Nausea/vomiting, Tenderness in the right lower quadrant, Rebound pain, Elevation of temperature, Leukocytosis, Shift to the left]) score is the most widely accepted test for assessing acute appendicitis.
• • Murphy scoreThe Murphy score is not used to assess abdominal pain.
• • The Pediatric appendicitis scoreThe pediatric appendicitis score is a tool to assess abdominal pain but is not the most widely accepted.