Palpation of the bladder
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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