Which are signs of increasing abdominal bleeding?

• A. Abdominal distension, guarding, tenderness, rigid abdomen, tachycardia, hypotension.
• B. Bruising on the chest.
• C. Clear lungs with normal chest expansion.
• D. No abdominal pain with stable vitals.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing signs that point to growing intra-abdominal bleeding. When blood accumulates in the peritoneal cavity, the abdomen often becomes distended and irritated, leading to tenderness, guarding, and a rigid, tense feel. These physical findings reflect irritation of the peritoneum and a protective muscular response. As blood loss continues, the body compensates by increasing heart rate (tachycardia) to maintain perfusion; if bleeding progresses, blood pressure drops (hypotension) due to reduced circulating volume. That combination—distension with guarding/rigidity and tachycardia progressing toward hypotension—strongly suggests increasing abdominal hemorrhage.

Other scenarios don’t fit this pattern. Bruising on the chest points to chest trauma rather than the abdomen. Clear lungs with normal chest expansion indicate no chest injury or respiratory compromise. No abdominal pain with stable vital signs suggests there’s no current intra-abdominal bleeding.