Lying supine
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a private room. Ask the patient if he/she is willing to uncover the abdominal area ñ removing the shirt for men and for women, either wearing a halter top or two piece bathing suit, etc. or rolling the shirt up to uncover the abdominal area. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the diaphragm muscle may be palpated over clothing.
Anterior to the patient.
(Guide the patient to drape appropriately.) Please lie on your back. May I touch your abdomen? (or point to the area). I am going to gently wrap my fingers around your ribs. Breathe slowly.
Guide the patient to drape appropriately. Guide the patient to lie supine. With the patient relaxed and with permission, gently wrap your fingers around the ribs in the abdominal area. When the patient exhales, gently press deeper. With inspiration, note whether your fingers are pushed anteriorly and out of the abdomen.
In supine, the diaphragm is the muscle mainly producing inspiration. During inspiration with activation of the diaphragm, the abdomen expands and pushes your fingers out from under the ribs.
In supine, the diaphragm is the muscle mainly producing inspiration. During inspiration with activation of the diaphragm, the abdomen expands and pushes your fingers out from under the ribs.
VH - Spine skeleton the diaphragm
On one side add rectus sheath, rectus, external and internal oblique abdominis muscles, transverses abdominis, quadratus lumborum muscle, inguinal ligament, pectoralis major muscles and tendons