While Performing the Secondary Assessment on a Patient's Abdomen, You

question 72

Multiple Choice

While performing the secondary assessment on a patient's abdomen, you note a pulsating mass just above the umbilicus. Your next action would be to:

• A) increase pressure of palpation to determine pain to deep organs.
• B) check the blood pressure in both arms.
• C) determine the exact size of the pulsating mass.
• D) palpate the remainder of the abdomen gently.

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Definitions:

Isotonic

A solution that has the same osmotic pressure as the fluids in a cell or body, resulting in no net movement of water across cell membranes.

Selectively Permeable

A property of cellular membranes that allows certain molecules or ions to pass through it by means of active or passive transport, while preventing others.

Osmosis

The passive movement of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Simple Diffusion

A process whereby molecules move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration without the need for energy input.