Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Appendicitis physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Patients with acute appendicitis usually appear in pain and distress. Physical examination of patients with appendicitis is usually remarkable for fever and mild tachycardia. Even minimal pressure on the abdomen can elicit a marked pain to patient.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Vitals
Skin
Abdomen
- The abdominal wall is very sensitive to mild palpation.
- Rebound tenderness
- Abdominal guarding
- Rovsing’s sign
- Psoas sign
- Obturator sign[2]
- A digital rectal examination elicits tenderness in the rectovesical pouch in special cases of appendicitis.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farwa Haideri [2]