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Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography

Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography

Introduction:
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...

Abdominal Regions and Quadrants

Abdominal Regions and Quadrants

To promote clear communication, for instance, about the location of a patient's abdominal pain or a suspicious mass, anatomists and clinicians typically use imaginary lines to categorize the abdominopelvic cavity into either four quadrants or nine regions to identify organs in the cavity.
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...

Muscles of the Abdomen

Muscles of the Abdomen

The abdominal wall encircles the abdominal cavity, providing flexible protection and shielding the internal organs from harm. It is bordered at the top by the xiphoid process and costal margins, at the back by the vertebral column, and at the bottom by the pelvic bones and inguinal ligament. The abdominal wall is divided into two regions — the anterolateral and posterior regions.
Anterolateral Region
The anterolateral region comprises five paired muscles classified into the lateral and...

Abdominal Aorta

Abdominal Aorta

Once the aorta traverses the diaphragmatic plane at the aortic hiatus, it is known as the abdominal aorta. This anatomical structure is positioned leftward of the spinal column, encased within a cocoon of adipose tissue behind the peritoneal cavity. It terminates at the L4 vertebra, where it splits into the common iliac arteries. Prior to this bifurcation, the abdominal aorta gives rise to several vital branches.
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...

Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation

Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation

Introduction
The abdominal examination is a cornerstone of clinical medicine, serving as a critical tool in diagnosing various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. It involves a systematic approach that includes inspection and auscultation, each with distinct yet complementary roles in assessing the abdomen. This article will delve into these two primary methods healthcare professionals use to examine the abdomen.
Inspection of the Abdomen
The first step in any abdominal examination is inspection....

Assessment of the Abdomen II: Percussion

Assessment of the Abdomen II: Percussion

Percussion is a fundamental technique used to assess the liver, spleen, and abdominal organs by tapping the abdomen and interpreting the resulting sounds. This method helps identify fluid, distention, and masses through variations in sound, such as the high-pitched tympany of air-filled areas and the dullness of solid masses. Understanding how to percuss these organs provides valuable information for healthcare professionals in diagnosing conditions early.
Percussion
Percussion is an essential...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma FAST Exam: Image Acquisition

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma FAST Exam: Image Acquisition

Published on: September 22, 2023

Not transabdominal!

Adeeb Khalifeh¹, Vincenzo Berghella¹

¹Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

|November 28, 2016

Summary

Short cervix screening for preterm birth prevention is crucial. While transvaginal ultrasound is more accurate, transabdominal ultrasound offers ease of use and patient comfort, necessitating further research on their comparative effectiveness.

Keywords:

cervical length prematurity transabdominal transvaginal ultrasound

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Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical Imaging
Perinatal Medicine

Background:

Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal complications.
Short cervix is a significant risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth.
Current guidelines recommend cervical length screening using transvaginal ultrasound for high-risk pregnancies.

Discussion:

Transvaginal ultrasound offers superior accuracy and reliability for cervical length measurement.
Transabdominal ultrasound presents advantages in ease of implementation and patient comfort.
Existing clinical trials supporting interventions rely on transvaginal measurements.

Key Insights:

Transabdominal ultrasound shows good correlation with transvaginal measurements in observational studies.
A direct comparison via randomized clinical trials is lacking to evaluate the effectiveness of each ultrasound modality for preterm birth risk screening.
The debate centers on whether transvaginal ultrasound should be exclusive or if transabdominal ultrasound can be integrated.

Outlook:

Further randomized clinical studies are needed to compare transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound effectiveness head-to-head.
Investigating the potential role of transabdominal ultrasound in cervical length screening could improve accessibility and patient experience.
Optimizing preterm birth prevention strategies requires evidence-based decisions on the optimal ultrasound modality.