The term "navicular abdomen" or "scaphoid abdomen" refers to a medical condition characterized by a protrusion or concavity of the lower abdomen, resembling the shape of a boat, ship or an inverted triangle. This condition is often used to describe the physical appearance of patients who have lost significant weight or have a thin body frame.
The navicular abdomen is primarily associated with malnutrition, including conditions like anorexia nervosa, where individuals experience severe restriction of food intake. In such cases, with a significant decrease in body weight, the abdominal muscles and subcutaneous fat diminish, leading to a concave appearance of the lower abdomen. The loss of fat and muscle mass causes the pelvic bones, especially the iliac crests, to appear more prominent or stick out.
The navicular or scaphoid abdomen can also be observed in individuals suffering from certain medical conditions such as cachexia or protein-energy malnutrition. With the depletion of fat stores and muscle wasting, the abdomen can take on a sunken or hollowed-out appearance.
It is important to note that while the navicular abdomen is often associated with weight loss and severe malnutrition, it can also be seen in individuals with a naturally thin body build. In these cases, the appearance is not necessarily indicative of any underlying medical condition.
To accurately diagnose the navicular or scaphoid abdomen, a medical professional would usually perform a physical examination, assess the patient's medical history, and consider any related symptoms or indicators of malnutrition.
Boat-shaped a., a condition in which the anterior abdominal wall is sunken and presents a concave rather than a convex contour. blood effusion, hemoperitoneum. dropsy, ascites, hydrocelia, hydroperitoneum, examination, celioscopy, laparoscopy, abdominoscopy. gas inflation, aeroperitonia (outside the intestine); aerenterectasia, tympanites, tympany, meteorism, flatulence (within the intestine), incision, coeliotomy, laparotomy, gastrotomy., inflammation, coelitis, peritonitis, pain, colic, tormina, celialgia, celiodynia, enteralgia, iieus, gastralgia. puncture, paracentesis abdominis, celioparacentesis. relaxation of walls, pendulous abdomen, celiochalasis. sinking down of contents, splanchnoptosia, enteroptosia, gastroptosia, Glenard's disease. spasm, tormina, colic, tumor, celioncus, celiophyma.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.