Which sign would indicate cholecystitis during an abdominal assessment?

Murphy's sign is a specific indicator of cholecystitis, which is inflammation of the gallbladder. During a physical examination, this sign is assessed by having the patient take a deep breath while the examiner palpates the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. If the patient experiences pain and interrupts their breath due to discomfort at the point of palpation, it is considered a positive Murphy's sign. This reaction indicates inflammation or irritation of the gallbladder, as it is typically associated with conditions such as acute cholecystitis.

Other signs listed relate to different conditions. For example, McBurney's point tenderness is indicative of appendicitis, while the psoas and obturator signs are associated with appendicitis as well, especially if the appendix is located in certain positions. Thus, these signs do not reflect gallbladder issues and are not relevant for diagnosing cholecystitis. Instead, the significance of Murphy's sign lies in its direct correlation with gallbladder pathology, making it a key assessment in diagnosing cholecystitis.