AANP Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practiotioner Practice

Rovsing's Sign is a clinical indication of appendicitis. It is assessed by palpating the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, which can cause referred pain to the right lower quadrant—a common area where appendicitis symptoms are felt. When pressure is applied to the left side, if the patient reports pain in the right lower quadrant, it suggests irritation of the peritoneum, consistent with appendicitis.

The other signs mentioned serve different purposes in clinical examinations. Murphy's Sign is associated with gallbladder issues, particularly cholecystitis; it involves observing for pain upon palpation of the right upper quadrant as the patient inhales. The Babinski Sign is a neurological reflex primarily used to assess function of the corticospinal tract and is not directly related to abdominal pain or appendicitis. Courvoisier's Sign indicates a blockage of the common bile duct and is noted as the presence of a palpable gallbladder due to bile duct obstruction, which also does not relate to appendicitis. Thus, Rovsing's Sign specifically points to appendicitis when pain is elicited in the right lower quadrant.