Final answer:
When investigating a specific tender spot in the RLQ, a doctor is typically looking for McBurney's point tenderness. This clinical finding is often associated with appendicitis, the inflammation of the appendix.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a doctor presses in a specific spot in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) of a patient's abdomen, they are often investigating for a sign known as McBurney's point tenderness, which is associated with appendicitis. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a small tube of tissue extending from the large intestine. The identification of this tender spot is part of a physical examination aimed at diagnosing conditions that affect the lower right area of the abdomen. The location of abdominal pain can vary depending on the affected organ, which is why the abdomen is divided into regions or quadrants. The RLQ pain could also be indicative of other conditions like ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, or urinary tract infections, but McBurney's point tenderness is a classic sign of appendicitis.