A nurse is caring for a client and is performing an abdominal assessment. Which of the following sounds should the nurse expect when percussing over the right upper quadrant?

The right upper quadrant (RUQ) contains the liver — a solid organ. Percussion over solid organs produces a dull sound. Tympany is heard over air-filled structures (stomach, intestines). Resonance is heard over air-filled lung tissue. Flatness is heard over very dense tissue such as bone or muscle. The liver's characteristic dull percussion sound is used to assess liver span and detect hepatomegaly.