Measurements of abdomen

1. Abdominal girth should be measured at the level of umbilicus. 
2. Periodic measurement is done to assess prognosis in ascites, paralytic ileus.
3. Measure the distance between lower end of xiphisternum to umbilicus and from umbilicus to symphysis pubis. Normally umbilicus is in mid position, it is displaced down in ascites, upper abdominal mass, displaced upwards  in ovarian or pelvic tumors
4. Spinoumbilical measurement - It is the  distance between umbilicus and anterior superior iliac spines. Normally they are equidistant. Shift of umbilicus to one side will occur in case of tumors that originating from the other side of the abdomen.