Abdominal Examination

Start with the examination overview

The Abdominal Examination page brings together resources on inspection, palpation and related findings. For an overview, start with the Abdominal examination mind map. It includes abdominal contour, flanks, the subcostal angle and the suprapubic region, alongside descriptions such as normal, scaphoid and distended.

Next, use the Abdominal Assessment flashcards to study abdominal regions and examination actions. The deck includes the abdominal quadrants and epigastric area, as well as inspection, auscultation and percussion. A separate introductory flashcard deck covers abdominal divisions, planes and lines.

Explore findings and symptoms

The Abdominal examination flashcards look beyond the abdomen itself, with prompts about the end-of-bed assessment, hands and mouth. The GI Clinical Examination mind map also includes end-of-bed inspection, introduction and consent, and palpation. Use these resources to organize the different parts of an examination in your notes.

For a symptom-focused resource, the Change in bowel habit mind map covers what is normal for an individual, constipation and diarrhea. The GI examination flashcards include causes of ascites and organ enlargement, as well as signs of portal hypertension.

Put maps and quizzes together

After studying a mind map, try the Abdominal examination quiz. Its questions include causes of hepatomegaly and palmar erythema. Return to the maps or flashcards as you work through the findings you want to study further. There is also a formative self-assessment quiz with a question about a patient with abdominal pain.

Use the page within the unit

Abdominal Examination is a section of the Physical Examination unit in Internal medicine, pathology and clinical semiology. Use this page to focus on its listed examination resources, then return to the unit when you are ready to continue. Choose a map and pair it with a quiz for your next study session.