Murphy sign
Pronunciation: MUR-fee
Physical examination finding of inspiratory arrest during palpation of the right subcostal area, suggestive of acute cholecystitis.
Full Definition
A clinical sign elicited during physical examination where the patient experiences pain and involuntarily stops inspiration when the examiner's fingers are placed over the gallbladder area (right subcostal region) and the patient is asked to take a deep breath. Named after John Benjamin Murphy, this sign suggests acute cholecystitis when positive. The sign occurs because deep inspiration causes the inflamed gallbladder to descend and contact the examiner's fingers, producing sharp pain.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize as it is an eponym; apostrophe in Murphy's is optional but be consistent throughout document.
In Context
- "Physical examination revealed a positive Murphy sign consistent with acute cholecystitis." — Emergency department note
- "The absence of Murphy sign helped rule out gallbladder pathology in this patient with right upper quadrant pain." — Clinical assessment