Question

The nurse is palpating the left upper quadrant of a client's abdomen. Which organs may be assessed during this portion of the assessment?

1) Liver
2) Gallbladder
3) Appendix
4) Spleen
5) Stomach

Answer 1

The spleen and the stomach are the primary organs located in the left upper quadrant assessed during an abdominal palpation by a nurse.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is palpating the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of a client's abdomen, they may assess several organs that are located in this area. Notably, the spleen and the stomach are the primary organs located in the LUQ. The spleen acts mainly as a blood filter and plays a part in immune responses, whereas the stomach is a major organ in digestion, responsible for breaking down food and mixing it with digestive juices. The liver is primarily located in the right upper quadrant, but a small portion might extend into the LUQ. The gallbladder, however, is strictly in the right upper quadrant and is not assessed when palpating the LUQ. The appendix is located in the lower right quadrant and is also not palpated in the LUQ.