NR 304; Exam 1 Questions With Complete Solutions
Where do you find tympani? - (ANSWER)All 4 quadrants, normal
Where do you find dullness? - (ANSWER)RUQ-high under costal margin-liver
Where do you find resonance? - (ANSWER)lungs
How do you percuss liver span? - (ANSWER)Hold breath or let out all breath - (liver moves) and percuss
downward at L Mid clavicular line - area of dullness Is measured - 5-10 cm (women smaller than men)
How do you percuss spleen? - (ANSWER)Percuss at Left Mid-axillary line. Percuss down to dullness, and
then up to dullness measuring span.
How are the fluid wave and shifting dullness tests performed? What do they indicate? - (ANSWER)Fluid
wave - push on one side of patient's abdomen - with patient supine - put patient hand in middle and feel
wave (if there is fluid) on other side of abdomen.. if not fluid but fat, the patient hand will stop the
"wave" - Shifting dullness - percuss as patient is supine from tympani to dullness then have lay on side
and do same. IF fluid, the fluid shifts and dullness shifts - both indicate ascites = 3rd space or extracell.
Spacing of fluid from VEINS and PROTEIN which pulls more fluid from the veins = edema
What is purpose of light palpation? - (ANSWER)Light for superficial masses, muscle tone, symmetry, pain
What is the purpose of deep palpation? - (ANSWER)Deep palpation for organomegaly
What is rebound tenderness? IF + = - (ANSWER)Done by pushing into abdomen and quickly bringing
hands up - the reflexive bounce causes peritoneal spasm - PAIN if inflamed = +Blumbergs test
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Obesity - (ANSWER)-Obesity -
protruberant abdomen with negative fluid wave- probable striae
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Ascites - (ANSWER)+ fluid wave and
shifting dullness and history of liver or cancer issue -
See LOW albumin in their blood levels - other edema?
, NR 304; Exam 1 Questions With Complete Solutions
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Gaseous distention - (ANSWER)tons
of tympani with a distended abdomen - common with ileus where intestinal motility stops/slows and
gas-producing bacteria is hanging in one place of intestine.
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? tumor - (ANSWER)area of
organomegaly or mass palpable with deep palpation - dullness on percussion
What tests are done for a person with suspected appendicitis? - (ANSWER)Psoas - right leg lift -
Obturator - bent R leg - ab and adducted
Rebound Tenderness- If ruptured
What tests are done for a person with suspected cholecystitis? - (ANSWER)Murphy - palpation of
gallbladder with the inhalation of breath - liver moves up - fingers touch gallbladder - + liver function
tests and ultrasound for stones
What are the symptoms of Crohns and Ulcerative colitis? - (ANSWER)Bloody, mucousy, diarrhea,
bloating, gas, urgency to have stool - abdominal pain - may have anal and rectal ulcers
Melena - (ANSWER)black tarry stools are sign of blood that HAS been digested by HCL acid (stomach) or
upper GI
Bright red stool - (ANSWER)blood in stool has not been digested-lower GI-hemorroids
What are some signs of internal abdominal bleeding? - (ANSWER)Cullen, Grey Turner Flank,
HYPOTENSION, TACHYCARDIA, low blood count, shock (poor perfusion) and rebound tenderness
apex of heart - (ANSWER)5th intercostal space (this is referred to as the PMI - Point of Maximum
Impulse of heart)
base of the heart - (ANSWER)Can be auscultated over the second or third left intercostal space.
Where do you find tympani? - (ANSWER)All 4 quadrants, normal
Where do you find dullness? - (ANSWER)RUQ-high under costal margin-liver
Where do you find resonance? - (ANSWER)lungs
How do you percuss liver span? - (ANSWER)Hold breath or let out all breath - (liver moves) and percuss
downward at L Mid clavicular line - area of dullness Is measured - 5-10 cm (women smaller than men)
How do you percuss spleen? - (ANSWER)Percuss at Left Mid-axillary line. Percuss down to dullness, and
then up to dullness measuring span.
How are the fluid wave and shifting dullness tests performed? What do they indicate? - (ANSWER)Fluid
wave - push on one side of patient's abdomen - with patient supine - put patient hand in middle and feel
wave (if there is fluid) on other side of abdomen.. if not fluid but fat, the patient hand will stop the
"wave" - Shifting dullness - percuss as patient is supine from tympani to dullness then have lay on side
and do same. IF fluid, the fluid shifts and dullness shifts - both indicate ascites = 3rd space or extracell.
Spacing of fluid from VEINS and PROTEIN which pulls more fluid from the veins = edema
What is purpose of light palpation? - (ANSWER)Light for superficial masses, muscle tone, symmetry, pain
What is the purpose of deep palpation? - (ANSWER)Deep palpation for organomegaly
What is rebound tenderness? IF + = - (ANSWER)Done by pushing into abdomen and quickly bringing
hands up - the reflexive bounce causes peritoneal spasm - PAIN if inflamed = +Blumbergs test
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Obesity - (ANSWER)-Obesity -
protruberant abdomen with negative fluid wave- probable striae
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Ascites - (ANSWER)+ fluid wave and
shifting dullness and history of liver or cancer issue -
See LOW albumin in their blood levels - other edema?
, NR 304; Exam 1 Questions With Complete Solutions
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Gaseous distention - (ANSWER)tons
of tympani with a distended abdomen - common with ileus where intestinal motility stops/slows and
gas-producing bacteria is hanging in one place of intestine.
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? tumor - (ANSWER)area of
organomegaly or mass palpable with deep palpation - dullness on percussion
What tests are done for a person with suspected appendicitis? - (ANSWER)Psoas - right leg lift -
Obturator - bent R leg - ab and adducted
Rebound Tenderness- If ruptured
What tests are done for a person with suspected cholecystitis? - (ANSWER)Murphy - palpation of
gallbladder with the inhalation of breath - liver moves up - fingers touch gallbladder - + liver function
tests and ultrasound for stones
What are the symptoms of Crohns and Ulcerative colitis? - (ANSWER)Bloody, mucousy, diarrhea,
bloating, gas, urgency to have stool - abdominal pain - may have anal and rectal ulcers
Melena - (ANSWER)black tarry stools are sign of blood that HAS been digested by HCL acid (stomach) or
upper GI
Bright red stool - (ANSWER)blood in stool has not been digested-lower GI-hemorroids
What are some signs of internal abdominal bleeding? - (ANSWER)Cullen, Grey Turner Flank,
HYPOTENSION, TACHYCARDIA, low blood count, shock (poor perfusion) and rebound tenderness
apex of heart - (ANSWER)5th intercostal space (this is referred to as the PMI - Point of Maximum
Impulse of heart)
base of the heart - (ANSWER)Can be auscultated over the second or third left intercostal space.
