Abdomen palpation

When palpating a muscular abdomen vs a flabby abdomen, are doctors still able to palpate your organs underneath? Are you still considered having a 'soft belly' in medical terms?

The position - bent knees, relaxed - allows the rectus abdoninus to relax.

The term "soft" has to do with constipation/bloating and not muscles. A person with muscles can still have a soft abdomen even if there isn't a huge layer of "fluff" (adipose tissue). Likewise, a person with some fat around their midsection can still have a "firm" abdomen, usually caused by some type of internal issue, such as constipation, bowel obstruction, perforation, etc.) Hope that helps!

Agoodpatient regardless of having a muscular or flabby abdomen the examiner will be able to palpate your abdominal organs. The examiner typically palpates all 4 quadrants of the patient's abdomen. This is typically performed twice, lightly and then deeply.

On light palpation, the examiner tests for any palpable mass, rigidity, or pain.

On deep palpation, the examiner is testing for any organomegaly ( is the abnormal enlargement of organs) , including enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Reactions that may indicate pathology ( causes and effects of diseases) include:

- guarding, describing muscle contraction as pressure is applied.

- rigidity, indicating peritoneal inflammation.

- rebound, pain on release

- hernial orifices if positive cough impulses.

In my experience this is where the examiners skills and technique come in. I've been able to feel organs pretty easily on people with muscular abdomen who relaxed well, specially when taking the time for them to relax and get used to the exam. Even if you feel strong muscles, if there is no abnormal rigidity the abdomen would still be described as soft.

Saw my PCP last week and had a long abdomen palpation. My heart was around 80 and I know hw could feel the pulse there easily.

I have a pretty muscular abdomen and my doctor says they can feel all of my organs.

Good responses everyone. I have palpated many abdomens in my "career". The term "soft" only refers to the patient being relaxed and normal. I have felt the organs easily in fit ladies with well muscled abdomens , in not so fit ladies with a little extra cushion and slim ladies with no body fat. Abdominal palpation yields much tactile information if your technique is sound and well practiced. That's part of the fun!

This is what is so fascinating to me about abdominal examinations. A firm muscular abdomen or a soft more pillow like abdomen could require different levels of firmness and pressure when the doctor presses on them to palpate or feel organs. Or at least that's what i thought initially. Seems like the abdomen is always considered "soft" and the trick is to help and encourage the patient to be as relaxed as possible so that the doctor can feel what they need to feel. This is especially interesting to me as I always have a super hard time relaxing my abdominal muscles when they're touched at all, especially during a thorough palpation.

During the play exams I've been involved with the Abdominal palpation is always a must. Some people I've played with before don't seem to enjoy them but on a whole its an absolute must. My last partner was even able to climax while I examined her belly. Not sure how she did but she was VERY adamant about me checking her abdomen.

Wow I love when I get tense and the doctor has to tell me to relax

I just examined a very fit young woman yesterday. An active woman who is life long runner. Her abdomen is slim and looks tight but she was able to relax for me, especially with her legs up, and I could delineate some of her abdominal organs. She enjoyed the sensation of me touching things in her belly that never get touched.