,NU 325 Exam 3 | Health Assessment | University of
South Alabama
1. Which abdominal quadrant is the liver primarily located in?
A) Right upper quadrant
B) Left upper quadrant
C) Right lower quadrant
D) Left lower quadrant
Correct Answer: Right upper quadrant
Rationale: The liver occupies most of the right upper quadrant and extends
across the midline toward the left upper quadrant. The spleen is in the left upper
quadrant, and the lower quadrants contain the ascending and descending colon,
respectively.
2. What is the correct sequence for an abdominal examination?
A) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdominal examination begins with inspection, followed by
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation and percussion are deferred
,until after auscultation because they can alter bowel sound frequency and
intensity.
3. Which finding during abdominal inspection requires further evaluation?
A) Symmetrical contour with slight rounding
B) Visible peristaltic waves in a thin adult
C) Marked asymmetry or localized bulging
D) Silver-white striae on the abdomen
Correct Answer: Marked asymmetry or localized bulging
Rationale: Asymmetry or localized bulging may indicate a mass, hernia, or
organomegaly. Symmetrical contour, mild visible peristalsis in thin individuals,
and striae are common and often benign findings.
4. How long should the nurse listen to bowel sounds in each quadrant before
documenting them as absent?
A) 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 3 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds should not be documented until auscultation
has been performed for a full 5 minutes in each quadrant. Brief listening periods
may miss infrequent but present sounds.
, 5. Which bowel sound characteristic suggests a mechanical obstruction?
A) High-pitched, hyperactive sounds
B) Absent sounds
C) Low-pitched, infrequent sounds
D) Normal intermittent sounds
Correct Answer: High-pitched, hyperactive sounds
Rationale: Mechanical obstruction produces hyperactive, high-pitched bowel
sounds as the intestine attempts to overcome the blockage. Absent sounds suggest
ileus, and infrequent low-pitched sounds are typical of normal or slow transit.
6. What is the expected percussion note over the stomach bubble?
A) Dullness
B) Tympany
C) Resonance
D) Flatness
Correct Answer: Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is heard over air-filled structures such as the stomach and
intestines. Dullness is heard over solid organs or fluid, resonance over normal
lung, and flatness over dense structures such as bone.
7. Which technique is correct for light palpation of the abdomen?
South Alabama
1. Which abdominal quadrant is the liver primarily located in?
A) Right upper quadrant
B) Left upper quadrant
C) Right lower quadrant
D) Left lower quadrant
Correct Answer: Right upper quadrant
Rationale: The liver occupies most of the right upper quadrant and extends
across the midline toward the left upper quadrant. The spleen is in the left upper
quadrant, and the lower quadrants contain the ascending and descending colon,
respectively.
2. What is the correct sequence for an abdominal examination?
A) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdominal examination begins with inspection, followed by
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation and percussion are deferred
,until after auscultation because they can alter bowel sound frequency and
intensity.
3. Which finding during abdominal inspection requires further evaluation?
A) Symmetrical contour with slight rounding
B) Visible peristaltic waves in a thin adult
C) Marked asymmetry or localized bulging
D) Silver-white striae on the abdomen
Correct Answer: Marked asymmetry or localized bulging
Rationale: Asymmetry or localized bulging may indicate a mass, hernia, or
organomegaly. Symmetrical contour, mild visible peristalsis in thin individuals,
and striae are common and often benign findings.
4. How long should the nurse listen to bowel sounds in each quadrant before
documenting them as absent?
A) 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 3 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds should not be documented until auscultation
has been performed for a full 5 minutes in each quadrant. Brief listening periods
may miss infrequent but present sounds.
, 5. Which bowel sound characteristic suggests a mechanical obstruction?
A) High-pitched, hyperactive sounds
B) Absent sounds
C) Low-pitched, infrequent sounds
D) Normal intermittent sounds
Correct Answer: High-pitched, hyperactive sounds
Rationale: Mechanical obstruction produces hyperactive, high-pitched bowel
sounds as the intestine attempts to overcome the blockage. Absent sounds suggest
ileus, and infrequent low-pitched sounds are typical of normal or slow transit.
6. What is the expected percussion note over the stomach bubble?
A) Dullness
B) Tympany
C) Resonance
D) Flatness
Correct Answer: Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is heard over air-filled structures such as the stomach and
intestines. Dullness is heard over solid organs or fluid, resonance over normal
lung, and flatness over dense structures such as bone.
7. Which technique is correct for light palpation of the abdomen?
