Overview of Abdomen
The abdomen is assessed using inspection, auscultation and palpation (White 2005). The abdomen is inspected for size and symmetry and is normally rounded, symmetric, protuberant, and soft because of weak abdominal musculature with a slightly greater diameter above the umbilicus than below. The subcutaneous blood vessels in the abdomen may appear distended and blue (Williams & Wilkins 2006).
Abdominal assessment is complex, largely because of the many vital organs and blood vessels within the cavity of abdomen and its life-sustaining functions, such as digestion and elimination that are performed here (Weber & Kelley 2009). The abdomen houses the several body ...