Enhance your trauma care skills with the Platinum Trauma Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare now!

Multiple Choice

Which two organs are most commonly injured in blunt abdominal trauma?

Blunt abdominal trauma most often injures solid, highly vascular organs that sit within the peritoneal cavity. The spleen, tucked under the left lower ribs, is particularly vulnerable to blows to the left upper quadrant. Its capsule is relatively thin and it has a rich blood supply, so blunt forces frequently cause splenic lacerations or subcapsular hematomas. The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdomen and a major blood reservoir; despite protection from the rib cage, its size and vascularity make it a common target for blunt force injuries as well. Together, these two organs account for a large share of blunt abdominal injuries because they are both exposed and highly vascular. Other choices involve organs that are either not primarily in the abdomen, are retroperitoneal and thus less likely to be injured by blunt abdominal impact, or are less commonly affected by blunt trauma to the abdomen.

Blunt abdominal trauma most often injures solid, highly vascular organs that sit within the peritoneal cavity. The spleen, tucked under the left lower ribs, is particularly vulnerable to blows to the left upper quadrant. Its capsule is relatively thin and it has a rich blood supply, so blunt forces frequently cause splenic lacerations or subcapsular hematomas. The liver is the largest solid organ in the abdomen and a major blood reservoir; despite protection from the rib cage, its size and vascularity make it a common target for blunt force injuries as well. Together, these two organs account for a large share of blunt abdominal injuries because they are both exposed and highly vascular. Other choices involve organs that are either not primarily in the abdomen, are retroperitoneal and thus less likely to be injured by blunt abdominal impact, or are less commonly affected by blunt trauma to the abdomen.