Physical examination maneuver
Physical Exam
Abdomen Palpation
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How to Perform
With the patient supine, knees slightly flexed and arms at the sides to relax the abdominal wall, palpate all four quadrants — first lightly, assessing for tenderness, guarding, and superficial masses, then more deeply, assessing for organs and deeper masses. Watch the patient's face for discomfort throughout, and palpate any area of known pain last.
How to Interpret
Showing 10 of 47 findings
Acute Cholecystitis
Right upper quadrant tenderness
Rule in
InconclusiveWide CI
Rule out
InconclusiveWide CI
Evidence:Moderate
Appendicitis
Right lower quadrant tenderness
Rule in
HelpfulNo CI
Rule out
HelpfulNo CI
Evidence:Moderate
Diverticulitis
Left lower quadrant tenderness
Rule in
Somewhat helpful
Rule out
Somewhat helpful
Evidence:Moderate
Extrahepatic Biliary Obstruction
Palpable gallbladder in a jaundiced patient
Rule in
Very helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Minimally helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate
Palpable gallbladder (Courvoisier sign)
Rule in
Very helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Minimally helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate
Hepatocellular Jaundice
Palpable gallbladder (Courvoisier sign)
Rule in
Minimally helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Very helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate
Intussusception
Palpable abdominal mass
Rule in
Very helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Not helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Epigastric tenderness
Rule in
Not helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
InconclusiveWide CI
Evidence:Moderate
Pyloric Stenosis
Olive-shaped epigastric mass
Rule in
Very helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Somewhat helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Strong
Urinary Retention
Palpable bladder, detecting a bladder volume of at least 400 mL
Rule in
Minimally helpful
Rule out
InconclusiveNo CI, small study
Evidence:Moderate