Which sign is a classic indication of gallbladder disease?

Murphy's sign is a classic indication of gallbladder disease, particularly cholecystitis. When evaluating a patient, this sign is tested by having the patient take a deep breath while the clinician palpates the right upper quadrant. A positive Murphy's sign occurs when the patient experiences pain and halts their breath as a result of this palpation, suggesting irritation or inflammation of the gallbladder.

This sign is important because it provides clinicians with a quick and effective way to assess for gallbladder issues in an emergency setting. The pain associated with gallbladder disease is typically acute and localized to the right upper quadrant, making this test particularly relevant in a clinical assessment.

Other signs mentioned, such as Brudzinski's sign, Babinski's sign, and Kernig's sign, relate primarily to neurologic conditions, particularly meningitis or issues involving the central nervous system. These signs do not provide physiologic insights specific to gallbladder disease and therefore are not suitable for assessing cholecystitis or other gallbladder-related issues.