Traube's space

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Traube's space
Surface lines of the front of the thorax and abdomen. (Traube's space not labeled, but is in hypochondriac region.)
Spleen
Dorlands/Elsevier	s_16/12745893

Traube's (semilunar) space is an anatomic region of some clinical importance. It's a crescent-shaped space, encompassed by the lower edge of the left lung, the anterior border of the spleen, the left costal margin and the inferior margin of the left lobe of the liver. Thus, its surface markings are respectively the left sixth rib, the left anterior axillary line, and the left costal margin.

Contents 1 Percussion for splenomegaly 2 Eponym 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Percussion for splenomegaly

The normal human spleen measures about 125 millimeters in length, and splenomegaly is an important clinical sign. There are 2 possibilities to evaluate splenomegaly in the clinical examination: percussion and palpation.^[1] Percussion can be done in this space.

Underneath Traube's space lies the stomach, which produces a tympanic sound on percussion. If percussion over Traube's space produces a dull tone, this might indicate splenomegaly (but can also occur after a meal). Assessing this may be more difficult in obese patients.

In 1993, a systematic review by the Rational Clinical Examination found that percussion over Traube's space yields^[2]:

• sensitivity = 62%
• specificity = 72%

Specificity may be higher if the patient has not eaten in the last two hours.^[2]

[edit] Eponym

It is named for Ludwig Traube, although it was first described by his pupil in 1868.^[3] Another method was described by Donald O. Castell in 1967 (Castell's sign).

[edit] References

1. ^ Dubey S, Swaroop A, Jain R, Verma K, Garg P, Agarwal S (2000). "Percussion of Traube's space--a useful index of splenic enlargement". The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 48 (3): 326–8. PMID 11229121. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Grover SA, Barkun AN, Sackett DL (1993). "The rational clinical examination. Does this patient have splenomegaly?". JAMA 270 (18): 2218–21. PMID 8411607.  Ovid full text
3. ^ synd/3182 at Who Named It

[edit] See also

• Abdominal examination

[edit] External links

• Image at luc.edu

v • d • e General anatomy of torso Thorax/ Thoracic cavity Mediastinum (Superior, Anterior, Middle, Posterior) • Superior thoracic aperture • Inferior thoracic aperture • Triangle of auscultation • Intercostal space • Thoracic plane • Thoracic wall/Thoracic cage - fascia (Pectoral fascia, Clavipectoral fascia, Thoracolumbar fascia) • Chest • Midsternal line Thoracic diaphragm openings (Caval opening, Esophageal hiatus, Aortic hiatus, Foramina of Morgagni) • Central tendon • Crus of diaphragm • arcuate ligaments (Lateral, Medial, Median) Abdomen/ Abdominal cavity Retroperitoneum • Paracolic gutters • Hepatobiliary triangle anterior abdominal wall (Arcuate line, Linea alba, Tendinous intersection, Linea semilunaris, McBurney's point, Traube's space, Inguinal triangle) • Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) • Lumbar triangle • regions (Epigastrium, Hypochondrium, Umbilical region, Latus, Hypogastrium, Inguinal region) • planes (Transpyloric plane, Intertubercular plane, Midclavicular line) fascia (Fascia of Camper, Fascia of Scarpa, Transversalis fascia, Renal fascia, Rectus sheath) Pelvis/ Pelvic cavity Pelvic floor • Retropubic space fascia (Pelvic fascia, Superior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Inferior fascia of diaphragm of pelvis, Fascia of the Obturator internus, Tendinous arch, Iliac fascia, Iliopectineal fascia) Perineum Anal triangle (Ischioanal fossa, Pudendal canal, Anococcygeal raphe) Urogenital triangle (Superficial perineal pouch, Deep perineal pouch) Perineal body fascia (Dartos/fascia of perineum/superficial perineal fascia/Fascia of Colles, Perineal membrane/"Inferior fascia of UGD", "Superior fascia of UGD")