Costovertebral angle

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Costovertebral angle
CVangle.png
View of the human skeleton from the back; the costovertebral angle is marked.
Details
Identifiers
Latin arcus costovertebralis
Anatomical terminology
Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. Gray1126.png
Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney.

The costovertebral angle (Latin : arcus costovertebralis) is the acute angle formed on either side of the human back between the twelfth rib and the vertebral column. [1]

The kidney lies directly below this area, so is the place where, with percussion (Latin : sucussio renalis), pain is elicited when the person has kidney inflammation. The presence of pain is marked as a positive Murphy's punch sign or as costovertebral angle tenderness. [2]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Costovertebral angle tenderness</span> Pain

Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness is pain that results from touching the region inside of the costovertebral angle. The CVA is formed by the 12th rib and the spine. Assessing for CVA tenderness is part of the abdominal exam, and CVA tenderness often indicates kidney pathology. 

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Costovertebral may refer to:

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Lloyd's sign indicates the presence of renal calculus or pyelonephritis when pain is elicited by deep percussion in the back between the 12th rib and the spine. It is closely related to costovertebral angle tenderness, as the area of percussion is the same. However, Lloyd's sign is specifically defined as positive costovertebral angle tenderness along with the absence of tenderness when normal pressure is applied.

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References

  1. "Costovertebral Angle - Medical Definition". Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  2. Musana KA, Yale SH (August 2005). "Murphy's Sign". Clin Med Res. 3 (3): 132. doi:10.3121/cmr.3.3.132. PMC   1237152 . PMID   16160065.