Health Assessment
Abdomen
Surface Landmarks that Help Localize a Finding and Communicate those Findings to Others
Upper Right Quadrant Epigastric Upper Left Quadrant
• Liver • Stomach (distal • Stomach
• Gallbladder portion) • Spleen
• Duodenum • Liver • Left lobe of the liver
• Head of the pancreas • Pancreas • Body of pancreas
• Right kidney and adrenal gland • Right and left • Left kidney and adrenal gland
• Hepatic flexure of colon kidneys • Splenic flexure of colon
• Part of ascending and transverse • Aorta • Part of transverse and
colon descending colon
Umbilical
• Stomach
• Pancreas
• Small intestines
• Transverse colon
Lower Right Quadrant Hypogastric or Lower Left Quadrant
Suprapubic
• Cecum • Aorta • Part of descending colon
• Appendix • Uterus (if enlarged) • Sigmoid colon
• Right ovary and fallopian tube • Bladder (if • Left ovary and fallopian tube
• Right ureter distended) • Left ureter
• Right spermatic cord • Left spermatic cord
NURS1068 Health Assessment
, Objective Physical Abdomen Assessment through IAP
Inspection of Abdomen
Assessment Normal Findings Abnormal Findings
Contour Stand on the person's right side and Scaphoid abdomen, protuberant abdomen, abdominal distension.
look down on the abdomen. Determine
the profile from the rib margin to the
pubic bone. The contour describes the
nutritional state and normally ranges
from flat to rounded.
Symmetry Shine a light across the abdomen Note any localized bulging, visible mass, or asymmetrical shape:
towards you, or shine it lengthwise Bulges, masses.
across the person. Hernia—protrusion of abdominal viscera through abnormal
The abdomen should be symmetrical opening in muscle wall.
bilaterally. The abdomen should stay Enlarged liver or spleen may show.
smooth and symmetrical.
Distention The abdomen should stay smooth and Obesity: Uniformly rounded. Umbilicus sunken (it adheres to
symmetrical. peritoneum, and layers of fat are superficial to it).
Air or gas: Single round curve.
Ascites: Single curve. Everted umbilicus. Bulging flanks when
supine. Taut, glistening skin, recent weight gain, increase in
abdominal girth.
Ovarian cyst: Curve in lower half of abdomen, midline. Everted
umbilicus.
Pregnancy: Single curve. Umbilicus protruding. Breasts
engorged.
Feces: Localized distension.
Tumour: Localized distension.
Umbilicus Normally it is midline and inverted, Everted with ascites, or underlying mass
with no sign of discoloration, The umbilicus is a common site for piercings in young women.
inflammation, or hernia. The site should not be red or crusted.
It becomes everted and pushed Deeply sunken with obesity.
upward with pregnancy. Enlarged and everted with umbilical hernia.
Bluish periumbilical color occurs
with intra-abdominal bleeding
(Cullen's sign).
NURS1068 Health Assessment
Abdomen
Surface Landmarks that Help Localize a Finding and Communicate those Findings to Others
Upper Right Quadrant Epigastric Upper Left Quadrant
• Liver • Stomach (distal • Stomach
• Gallbladder portion) • Spleen
• Duodenum • Liver • Left lobe of the liver
• Head of the pancreas • Pancreas • Body of pancreas
• Right kidney and adrenal gland • Right and left • Left kidney and adrenal gland
• Hepatic flexure of colon kidneys • Splenic flexure of colon
• Part of ascending and transverse • Aorta • Part of transverse and
colon descending colon
Umbilical
• Stomach
• Pancreas
• Small intestines
• Transverse colon
Lower Right Quadrant Hypogastric or Lower Left Quadrant
Suprapubic
• Cecum • Aorta • Part of descending colon
• Appendix • Uterus (if enlarged) • Sigmoid colon
• Right ovary and fallopian tube • Bladder (if • Left ovary and fallopian tube
• Right ureter distended) • Left ureter
• Right spermatic cord • Left spermatic cord
NURS1068 Health Assessment
, Objective Physical Abdomen Assessment through IAP
Inspection of Abdomen
Assessment Normal Findings Abnormal Findings
Contour Stand on the person's right side and Scaphoid abdomen, protuberant abdomen, abdominal distension.
look down on the abdomen. Determine
the profile from the rib margin to the
pubic bone. The contour describes the
nutritional state and normally ranges
from flat to rounded.
Symmetry Shine a light across the abdomen Note any localized bulging, visible mass, or asymmetrical shape:
towards you, or shine it lengthwise Bulges, masses.
across the person. Hernia—protrusion of abdominal viscera through abnormal
The abdomen should be symmetrical opening in muscle wall.
bilaterally. The abdomen should stay Enlarged liver or spleen may show.
smooth and symmetrical.
Distention The abdomen should stay smooth and Obesity: Uniformly rounded. Umbilicus sunken (it adheres to
symmetrical. peritoneum, and layers of fat are superficial to it).
Air or gas: Single round curve.
Ascites: Single curve. Everted umbilicus. Bulging flanks when
supine. Taut, glistening skin, recent weight gain, increase in
abdominal girth.
Ovarian cyst: Curve in lower half of abdomen, midline. Everted
umbilicus.
Pregnancy: Single curve. Umbilicus protruding. Breasts
engorged.
Feces: Localized distension.
Tumour: Localized distension.
Umbilicus Normally it is midline and inverted, Everted with ascites, or underlying mass
with no sign of discoloration, The umbilicus is a common site for piercings in young women.
inflammation, or hernia. The site should not be red or crusted.
It becomes everted and pushed Deeply sunken with obesity.
upward with pregnancy. Enlarged and everted with umbilical hernia.
Bluish periumbilical color occurs
with intra-abdominal bleeding
(Cullen's sign).
NURS1068 Health Assessment
