Abdominal Physical Signs and Medical Eponyms: Movements and Compression

Background: Prior to the advent of modern imaging techniques, maneuvers were performed as part of the physical examination to further assess pathological findings or an acute abdomen and to further improve clinicians' diagnostic acumen to identify the site and cause of disease. Maneuvers such as changing the position of the patient, extremity, or displacing through pressure a particular organ or structure from its original position are typically used to exacerbate or elicit pain. Some of these techniques, also referred to as special tests, are ascribed as medical eponym signs