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    Hesi rn health assessment proctored exam

    While percussing the abdomen of an adult male client, the nurse encounters a musical high-pitched sound. Which does this finding indicate?

    Explanation & Rationale

    A. Soft tissue, such as the liver or spleen, typically produces a dull sound on percussion, not a high- pitched musical sound. Soft tissue is more associated with a dullness because it is denser compared to the surrounding air or fluids. B. Gas in the gastrointestinal tract often produces a musical or high-pitched sound on percussion, known as tympany. This sound occurs because gas is less dense than other abdominal contents and resonates with a high pitch. Tympany is the most common sound heard when percussing over the stomach and intestines. C. An intestinal mass, depending on its size and location, may produce a dull or a combination of dull and tympanic sounds. However, it is not typically associated with a high-pitched musical sound. Percussion over an intestinal mass would likely be dull rather than musical. D. A full bladder typically produces a dull sound on percussion, not a musical high-pitched sound. A dull sound indicates the presence of a solid or fluid-filled structure, such as a full bladder.

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