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Palpation of the bladder

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

An empty bladder is not palpable.

A full bladder presents as a pelvis mass which is typically, regular, smooth, firm, and oval-shaped. It arises in the midline. The lower border cannot be felt. The upper border may reach as high the umbilicus. Size may be expressed in finger breadths above the pubic symphysis.

A full bladder is distinguished from other pelvic masses by:

  • presence of other features of urinary difficulty
  • pain, in acute urinary retention
  • discomfort on examination - palpation typically worsens urge to micturate
  • dullness to percussion

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