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.
Murphy's punch sign
Introduction
Murphy’s punch sign is elicited when gently tapping the area of the back overlying the kidney
produces pain in people with an infection around the kidney (perinephric abscess). Because the kidney lies directly below this area, known as the costovertebral angle, tapping disturbs the kidney. Because it is surrounded by infected fluid, this jarring motion produces pain. This medical test was first described by the American surgeon John Benjamin Murphy.
References
- Robert L. Schmitz, Tomothy T. Oh, editors: The Remarkable Surgical Practice of John Benjamin Murphy. University of Illinois Press, 1993.