In Depth: Muscles. The major muscle in the chest is the pectoralis major. This large fan-shaped muscle stretches from the armpit up to the collarbone and down across the lower chest region on both sides of the chest. The two sides connect at the sternum, or breastbone.
Listen for bowel sounds for atleast 1 min in each quadrant and you should hear anywhere from 5-30 bowel sounds in each quadrant. If you don't hear anything or (0-4 bowel sounds) in a quadrant after 1 minute listen for a full 5 min. 0 to 4 bowel sounds heard in 5 min are called hypoactive Bowel sounds, more than 30 bowel sounds in a minute are called hyperactive... Hope this helps you ;--) May 14, '09.
If it is a major abdominal surgery, of course you will not hear any bowel sounds immediately post op. And you do not need to call the doctor. They don't expect to hear any at first. If it is some other surgery, it depends, but probably will hear bowel sounds. Please chart what you hear (or don't hear). If you auscultate and do not hear bowel sounds, then chart that they are absent, not hypoactive. leslie :-D and RN1982 like this.