| guarding | A spasm of muscles to minimise motion or agitation of sites affected by injury or disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| abdominal guarding | <clinical sign> A spasm of abdominal wall muscles, detected on palpation, to protect inflamed abdominal viscera from pressure. Guarding is typically a finding in the physical examination where inflammation of the peritoneal surface has occurred as in appendicitis, diverticulitis or generalised peritonitis. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| voluntary guarding | Abdominal muscle spasm that can be willfully suppressed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| involuntary guarding | Abdominal muscle spasm, caused by retroperitoneal inflammation, which cannot be willfully suppressed. (05 Mar 2000) |