Abdominal examination

Abdominal examination is a clinical assessment of the abdomen using inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation to identify signs of disease.

Abdominal inspection: Visual assessment of the abdomen’s shape, skin, movement, and visible abnormalities. It begins the examination and can reveal distension, scars, masses, or abnormal movement.
Abdominal quadrants: Four regions—right and left upper and lower quadrants—used to describe abdominal locations. Quadrants provide a shared map for recording tenderness, masses, and organ findings.
Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, commonly causing pain that localizes to the right lower abdomen. Localized tenderness and associated maneuvers can support clinical suspicion.
Pelvic examination: Clinical assessment of the female reproductive organs using external and internal examination techniques. It evaluates pelvic structures that abdominal examination may not adequately assess.
Abdominal auscultation: Listening to abdominal sounds, especially bowel sounds and vascular bruits, with a stethoscope. It assesses bowel activity and blood-flow sounds before percussion or palpation may alter them.
Abdominal regions: A nine-part surface division of the abdomen used to describe anatomical locations. The nine-region map offers finer localization than the quadrant system.
Ascites: Abnormal accumulation of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity. Shifting dullness and fluid wave are examination signs used to assess abdominal fluid.
Rectal examination: Examination of the anal canal and rectum, often using a gloved finger. It can provide findings beyond the reach of abdominal inspection and palpation.
Abdominal percussion: Tapping the abdominal wall to distinguish underlying gas, fluid, solid organs, and masses by sound. Percussion helps estimate organ size and detect abnormal fluid or gas.
Peritoneum: The membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering many abdominal organs. Peritoneal irritation can produce guarding, tenderness, and pain with movement.

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