clinical examination of the gastrointestinal system
Last reviewed 01/2018
Clinical examination of the abdomen involves consideration of all the intra-abdominal structures, notably the stomach, duodenum, small and large bowel, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder and aorta.
There are a large number of different structures within a relatively small cavity, all susceptible to disease or malfunction and capable of producing symptoms. Therefore, it is not surprising that the diagnosis of abdominal complaints can be extremely challenging.