Abdominal examination: role of percussion and auscultation. 1977

D O Castell, and B B Frank

Clinicians should not minimize or overlook the importance of percussion of the liver and the spleen and of auscultation over the liver as routine parts of abdominal examination. Splenic percussion can be used to detect splenomegaly even before the spleen becomes palpable. The span of liver dullness on percussion can be compared with established normal standards to detect hepatomegaly or alterations caused by cirrhosis. A systolic bruit, a friction rub, or a venous hum detected by auscultation over the liver is an important sign of liver disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008107 Liver Diseases Pathological processes of the LIVER. Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D010474 Percussion Act of striking a part with short, sharp blows as an aid in diagnosing the condition beneath the sound obtained. Percussions
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000005 Abdomen That portion of the body that lies between the THORAX and the PELVIS. Abdomens
D001314 Auscultation Act of listening for sounds within the body. Auscultations
D013154 Spleen An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.
D013163 Splenomegaly Enlargement of the spleen. Enlarged Spleen,Spleen, Enlarged

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