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 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 rectus abdominis muscle usually can 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). Please reach with your hands toward your knees. (If needed, hold in this position while I try to push you back.)
Guide the patient to drape appropriately. Guide the patient to lie supine. With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the right and left rectus abdominis. Guide the patient to flex the trunk to about 45∞. With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of the rectus abdominis by asking the patient to:
flex the trunk to about 45° and put his/her hands on the opposite shoulders
flex the trunk to about 45° and put his/her hands behind the head
Observe/palpate the areas of connective tissue that join one segment of the rectus abdominis muscle to the next segment. The presence of these intersections result in the abdominal ìripplesî or muscle bulges.
flex the trunk to about 45° and put his/her hands on the opposite shoulders
flex the trunk to about 45° and put his/her hands behind the head
Observe/palpate the areas of connective tissue that join one segment of the rectus abdominis muscle to the next segment. The presence of these intersections result in the abdominal ìripplesî or muscle bulges.
VH - Spine skeleton with Rectus abdominis
On the other side add rectus sheath, external and internal oblique abdominis muscles, transverses abdominis, inguinal ligament, intercostals, pectoralis major muscles and tendons