Leopold's maneuvers
Leopold's Maneuvers
Leopold's maneuvers (pronounced: lee-uh-poldz muh-noo-verz) are a common and systematic method used to assess the position of a fetus inside the woman's uterus. The maneuvers consist of four distinct actions, each of which aims to provide information about the fetus, such as its position, presentation, and engagement. The maneuvers are named after the German gynecologist Christian Gerhard Leopold, who first described them in 1894.
Etymology
The term "Leopold's maneuvers" is derived from the name of the German gynecologist Christian Gerhard Leopold, who first described these maneuvers. The word "maneuver" originates from the Latin word "manuoperare", which means "to work with the hand".
Procedure
Leopold's maneuvers consist of four systematic steps:
- First maneuver (Fundal Grip): The examiner palpates the woman's upper abdomen with both hands to determine the part of the fetus lying in the fundus of the uterus.
- Second maneuver (Umbilical Grip): The examiner palpates the sides of the woman's abdomen to determine the location of the fetal back and small parts.
- Third maneuver (Pawlik’s Grip or First Pelvic Grip): The examiner palpates the lower abdomen just above the pubic symphysis to confirm the presenting part of the fetus.
- Fourth maneuver (Second Pelvic Grip): The examiner palpates the woman's lower abdomen on both sides to determine the fetal attitude and degree of fetal descent into the pelvis.
Related Terms
- Fetus: The unborn offspring from the end of the 8th week after conception (when the major structures have formed) until birth.
- Uterus: The organ in the lower body of a woman where offspring are conceived and in which they gestate before birth.
- Abdomen: The part of the body that contains all the parts between the chest and the pelvis.
- Pelvis: The lower part of the torso, between the abdomen and the thighs.
- Symphysis: A type of joint where the bones are connected by fibrocartilage and are slightly movable or immovable, like the pubic symphysis in the pelvis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leopold's maneuvers
- Wikipedia's article - Leopold's maneuvers
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