How is Murphy's sign evaluated during a physical examination?

Murphy's sign is assessed by placing fingers under the right ribs and checking for pain or tenderness during the examination. This maneuver is designed to elicit discomfort when the gallbladder is inflamed, as in cases of cholecystitis. When the patient takes a deep breath, the diaphragm moves downward, expanding the abdomen and potentially pushing the inflamed gallbladder against the examining fingers, which can cause sharp pain. The identification of this pain is a classic indicator of gallbladder issues.

Other evaluation methods mentioned do not specifically relate to Murphy's sign. For instance, palpating the abdominal aorta and performing deep abdominal compression are used for different assessments and do not directly assess gallbladder function or the presence of cholecystitis. Additionally, having patients cough while under observation is not a method for evaluating Murphy's sign; instead, it may be more relevant in assessing abdominal or thoracic conditions. Thus, the method of placing fingers under the right ribs is distinctly the correct approach to evaluate Murphy's sign.