Murphy Sign

How to Perform

With the patient supine, place your hand over the right upper quadrant just below the costal margin. Ask the patient to exhale, and press deeply beneath the right costal margin as they do so. Maintain the pressure and ask the patient to take a deep breath. The test is positive when pain causes the patient to abruptly stop inspiring. Alternatively, Murphy originally described hooking the fingers beneath the right costal margin below the liver edge before asking the patient to take a deep breath.

How to Interpret