Costovertebral angle tenderness

Costovertebral angle tenderness
Anatomic relationship of the 12th rib and lumbar vertebrae with lines representing the CVA overdrawn

Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness is pain that results from touching the region inside of the costovertebral angle.[1] The CVA is formed by the 12th rib and the spine.[1] Assessing for CVA tenderness is part of the abdominal exam, and CVA tenderness often indicates kidney pathology.[1]  

  1. ^ a b c Bickley, Lynn S., Peter G. Szilagyi, and Richard M. Hoffman. Bates' guide to physical examination and history taking. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2017. Print.