The nurse is percussing the seventh right intercostal space at the midclavicular line over the liver. Which sound should the nurse expect to hear?

A) Tympany
B) Dullness
C) Resonance
D) Hyperresonance

Abdominal percussion is performed to assess the relative density of abdominal contents, locate organs, and screen for abnormal fluid or masses in the abdomen. The liver is a solid organ which is located in the right upper quadrant and would elicit a dull percussion note. Tympany is heard over air-filled organs such as the stomach and intestines. It is the predominant sound that should be heard over the intestines because air in the intestines rises to the surface when the person is supine. Resonance is a low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in health lung tissue. Hyperresonance is a lower-pitched, booming sound found when too much air is present such as with gaseous distention of the intestines in the abdomen or emphysema in the lungs. Since the liver is a solid organ located in the right upper quadrant, it should elicit a dull sound when percussed.