How many quadrants is the abdomen divided into? - >4 (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ)
Where is the iliocecal valve located? - >right lower quadrant
What is located in the RLQ? - >- Appendix
- Ascending colon
- Bladder
- Cecum
- Rectum
- Ovary, uterus & fallopian tube
- prostate and spermatic cord
- small intestine
- right ureter
What is located in the RUQ? - >- ascending colon
- duodenum
- gallbladder
- right kidney
- liver
- pancreas
- transverse colon
- right ureter
What is located in the LUQ? - >- descending colon
- left kidney
- pancreas
- spleen
- stomach
- transverse colon
- left ureter
What is located in the LLQ? - >- bladder
- descending colon
- ovary, uterus & fallopian tube
- prostate and spermatic cord
- small intestine
- sigmoid colon
- left ureter
Where is the epigastric region? - >superior to the umbilical region
Where is the umbilical region? - >middle of stomach (belly button)
Where is the hypogastric region? (also called suprapubic) - >inferior to the umbilical region
, Focused abdominal health history questions - >- allergies and current meds?
- daily food & drink intake?
- smoking, alcohol, or drug use?
- any abdominal pain?
- last BM/urinary pattern?
- Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, vomiting, or nausea?
- History: family, immunizations or blood transfusions
What are the types of abdominal pain? - >- Visceral
- Parietal
- Referred
- acute
- chronic
- upper
- lower
What is visceral pain? - >- Originating from interior organs
Aching, Poorly localized, Often accompanied by autonomic responses (vomiting, nausea,
pallor, diaphoresis & restlessness)
- typically palpable near midline
- may be gnawing, burning, cramping or aching
- varies in quality
What is parietal pain? - >- a localized, intense pain that arises from inflammation of the
parietal peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity
- steady, aching pain
- usually more severe than visceral
- aggravated by coughing
- patients usually prefer to lie still
What is peritonitis? - >inflammation of the peritoneum
What is referred pain? - >- pain felt in a part of the body other than its actual source
- felt more in distant sites
- develops as initial pain becomes more intense
- may start in other region and refer to abdomen
Acute upper abdominal pain or discomfort - >OLDCART
Chronic upper abdominal discomfort or pain - >Dyspepsia
Discomfort may be nonpainful, just uncomfortable
Heartburn