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Abdominal radiograph, erect — dilated bowel
Plain radiograph · Erect abdomen · Abdomen
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The most useful anatomy lesson on any abdominal film: you can tell small bowel from large bowel by their mucosal folds alone. Valvulae conniventes cross the whole width of the lumen; haustra do not. Learn that one distinction and half of abdominal plain-film reading falls into place. Say the projection first, because it decides what you are allowed to comment on — fluid levels need a horizontal beam.
Plain radiograph · Erect abdomen · © MedpulseIq.com
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Abdominal radiograph, erect — dilated bowel — the whole bench in four lines. Read this on the way in.
- If you see this
- Dilated loops in the centre of the abdomen · Folds crossing the full width of the lumen · Little or no gas peripherally in the colon
- If asked to identify it
- There are centrally placed dilated loops whose mucosal folds cross the entire lumen.
- If asked one more
- Valvulae conniventes cross fully; haustra do not, because the taeniae coli sacculate the colon.
- If asked why it matters
- Dilatation that stops at a point suggests a mechanical cause rather than ileus.
Then stop. Let the examiner ask the next question.