During abdominal assessment, what is the significance of the Murphy sign?

The Murphy sign is significant in clinical practice as it helps indicate gallbladder disease, particularly cholecystitis. When performing a physical examination, the Murphy sign is assessed by having the patient take a deep breath while the clinician palpates the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. If the patient experiences pain and stops inhaling due to discomfort, this is a positive Murphy sign.

This response reflects an acute inflammatory process of the gallbladder, commonly associated with gallstones blocking the cystic duct. Therefore, the presence of a positive Murphy sign is clinically relevant as it directs health professionals towards further diagnostic evaluation for gallbladder pathologies, particularly acute cholecystitis.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately connect the Murphy sign to their respective conditions. For instance, pancreatitis and liver disease have different signs and symptoms that clinicians would assess for, while the heart issues also would not be evaluated through abdominal palpation as indicated by the Murphy sign. Understanding the specificity of the Murphy sign reinforces its importance in diagnosing conditions related to the gallbladder.