Abdomen - swollen 11/10/2004
A swollen abdomen is marked by increased abdominal girth.
Alternative Names: Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen
Considerations: Abdominal distention is a common condition, which usually results from over-eating, rather than from a serious illness. Simple weight gain , premenstrual syndrome (PMS) , pregnancy, or the unconscious swallowing of air can also cause distention. Abdominal distention is often caused by intestinal gas.
Abdominal bloating 11/10/2004
Abdominal bloating is when the abdomen feels full and tight. It is usually caused by intestinal gas.
Alternative Names: Bloating
Considerations:
Common Causes: Overeating Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Irritable bowel syndrome Partial bowel obstruction Constipation Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors, such as those arising from ovarian cancer .
Abdominal fullness prematurely after meals 01/23/2006
Satiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual.
Alternative Names: Early satiety
Considerations: Early satiety can occur from numerous causes.
Common Causes: Delayed stomach emptying Gastric outlet obstruction Decreased stomach distensibility Irritable bowel syndrome Dyspepsia
Home Care: Follow your health care provider's recommendations.
Abdominal mass 08/11/2005
An abdominal mass is a localized swelling or enlargement in one area of the abdomen.
Alternative Names: Mass in the abdomen
Considerations: An abdominal mass is usually detected on routine physical examination . It may not have been detected by the affected person because most abdominal masses develop slowly. An abdominal mass can be a sign of an abscess, a problem with a blood vessel (such as an aneurysm ), an enlarged organ (such as the liver, spleen, or kidney), a tumor , or an accumulation of feces.
Abdominal pain 04/28/2005
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.
Alternative Names: Stomach pain; Pain - abdomen; Belly ache; Abdominal cramps; Acute abdomen
Considerations: There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including: Organs related to digestion -- the stomach, the end of the esophagus, the small and large intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas.
Abdominal rigidity 11/10/2004
Abdominal rigidity involves abnormal muscle tension or inflexibility of the abdomen, detected when touched or pressed.
Alternative Names: Rigidity of the abdomen
Considerations: When there is a sore area in the abdomen, the pain becomes more intense as the hand presses against it and overcomes the muscular resistance. A patient's fear or nervousness about being touched (palpated) in the abdominal area is referred to as voluntary rigidity. It usually occurs on both sides of the abdomen.
Abdominal sounds 03/02/2006
Abdominal sounds are the noises made by the intestines.
Alternative Names: Bowel sounds
Considerations: Abdominal sounds (bowel sounds) are made by the movement of the intestines as they push food through. Since the intestines are hollow, bowel sounds can echo throughout the abdomen much like the sounds heard from water-pipes. The majority of the bowel sounds are harmless and simply indicate that the gastrointestinal tract is working.
Abnormal posturing 02/15/2005
Abnormal posturing is the tendency to assume a particular body position, or to move or hold one or more parts of the body in a particular way. Certain abnormal posturing behaviors may indicate specific injuries to the nervous system.
Considerations: Abnormal posturing is a sign of serious central nervous system damage. Normally, when a muscle contracts, the muscles on the opposite side of the joint provide some resistance to contraction. Abnormal posturing occurs when damage to the central nervous system (brain or spinal cord) results in complete or partial lack of opposition to muscle contraction in various muscle groups.
Agitation 10/17/2005
Agitation refers to an unpleasant state of extreme arousal, increased tension , and irritability.
Alternative Names: Restlessness
Considerations: Extreme agitation can lead to confusion , hyperactivity , and outright hostility. Agitation can come on suddenly or gradually. It can last for just a few minutes or for weeks and even months. Pain, stress, and fever can all increase agitation. Agitation by itself may not have much clinical significance; but, if viewed with other symptoms, it can be a good indicator of a disease state.
Ambiguous genitalia 06/17/2005
A birth defect where the outer genitals do not have the typical appearance of either sex. (See also genetics )
Alternative Names: Genitals - ambiguous
Considerations: The genetic sex of a child is determined at conception. The mother's egg cell (ovum) contains an X chromosome , while the father's sperm cell contains either an X or a Y chromosome. These X and Y chromosomes determine the child's genetic sex. Normally, an infant inherits one pair of sex chromosomes -- one X from the mother and one X or one Y from the father.
