NR 304 Exam 1 – Study Guide and Exam Review Material
Where do you find tympani? - correct answer ✔✔All 4 quadrants, normal
Where do you find dullness? - correct answer ✔✔RUQ-high under costal margin-liver
Where do you find resonance? - correct answer ✔✔lungs
How do you percuss liver span? - correct 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? - correct 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? - correct
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? - correct answer ✔✔Light for superficial masses, muscle
tone, symmetry, pain
What is the purpose of deep palpation? - correct answer ✔✔Deep palpation for organomegaly
, What is rebound tenderness? IF + = - correct 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 - correct answer
✔✔-Obesity - protruberant abdomen with negative fluid wave- probable striae
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Ascites - correct answer
✔✔+ fluid wave and shifting dullness and history of liver or cancer issue -
See LOW albumin in their blood levels - other edema?
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Gaseous distention - correct
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 - correct answer
✔✔area of organomegaly or mass palpable with deep palpation - dullness on percussion
What tests are done for a person with suspected appendicitis? - correct 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? - correct 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? - correct answer ✔✔Bloody, mucousy,
diarrhea, bloating, gas, urgency to have stool - abdominal pain - may have anal and rectal ulcers
Where do you find tympani? - correct answer ✔✔All 4 quadrants, normal
Where do you find dullness? - correct answer ✔✔RUQ-high under costal margin-liver
Where do you find resonance? - correct answer ✔✔lungs
How do you percuss liver span? - correct 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? - correct 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? - correct
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? - correct answer ✔✔Light for superficial masses, muscle
tone, symmetry, pain
What is the purpose of deep palpation? - correct answer ✔✔Deep palpation for organomegaly
, What is rebound tenderness? IF + = - correct 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 - correct answer
✔✔-Obesity - protruberant abdomen with negative fluid wave- probable striae
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Ascites - correct answer
✔✔+ fluid wave and shifting dullness and history of liver or cancer issue -
See LOW albumin in their blood levels - other edema?
What examination findings would you expect with each condition? Gaseous distention - correct
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 - correct answer
✔✔area of organomegaly or mass palpable with deep palpation - dullness on percussion
What tests are done for a person with suspected appendicitis? - correct 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? - correct 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? - correct answer ✔✔Bloody, mucousy,
diarrhea, bloating, gas, urgency to have stool - abdominal pain - may have anal and rectal ulcers
