complete lecture

1. Abdomen pelvic Regions and
Quadrants
Ikramullah
Wiqarullah

2. Objectives
At the end of the lecture, student will be able to
• Explain division of the abdomen
• Describe regions and quadrants
• Explain organs located in regions and quadrants of abdomen pelvic region

3. Quadrants and Regions of the abdomen
Abdominal surface anatomy can be described when
viewed from in front of the abdomen in 2 ways:
1. Divided into 9 regions by two vertical and two
horizontal imaginary planes
2. Divided into 4 quadrants by single vertical and
horizontal imaginary planes
These regions and quadrants are of clinical
importance when examining and describing
pathologies related to the abdomen.

5. The four quadrants of the abdomen
The abdomen can also be divided
into four quadrants, known as the
right upper, the left upper, the
right lower, and the left lower
quadrants. It is common to see
these quadrants abbreviated as
RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, and LLQ,
respectively.

6. The two planes of the abdomen
The four quadrants of the abdominal
wall are used for general clinical
descriptions. The quadrants are
defined by the transumbilical and
medial planes. The transumbilical (or
horizontal) plane passes through the
umbilicus at the L4 level, and the
vertical medial plane divides the
body into the right and left halves.

7. Left lower quadrant (LLQ) of the human abdomen is the area left of the
midline and below the umbilicus. The LLQ includes the left iliac fossa and half
of the left flank region. The equivalent term for animals is left posterior
quadrant. Important organs here are:
• the descending colon and sigmoid colon
• the left ovary and fallopian tube
• the left ureter

8. Left upper quadrant (LUQ) extends from the median plane to the left
of the patient, and from the umbilical plane to the left ribcage. The
equivalent term for animals is left anterior quadrant. Important organs
here are:
• Stomach
• Spleen
• Left lobe of liver
• Body of pancreas
• Left kidney and adrenal gland
• Splenic flexure of colon
• Parts of transverse and descending colon

9. The right upper quadrant: (RUQ) extends from the median plane to the
right of the patient, and from the umbilical plane to the right ribcage. The
equivalent term for animals is right anterior quadrant. Important organs here are:
• Liver
• Gall bladder with biliary tree
• Duodenum
• Head of pancreas
• Right kidney and adrenal gland
• Hepatic flexure of colon

10. The right lower quadrant: (RLQ) extends from the median plane to
the right of the patient, and from the umbilical plane to the right inguinal
ligament. The equivalent term for animals is right posterior quadrant.
Important organs here are:
• Cecum
• Appendix
• Ascending colon
• Right ovary and Fallopian tube
• Right ureter

11. Regions of the abdomen
Nine regions of the abdomen can be
marked using two horizontal and two
vertical dividing lines. The vertical
lines are the mid-clavicular lines taken
from the mid-point of each clavicle.
The upper horizontal line is
the subcostal line taken from the
inferior parts of the lowest costal
cartilages. The lower horizontal line is
the intertubercular line connecting
the tubercles of the pelvis.

12. • The three main centrally positioned regions are the epigastric
region, the umbilical region, and the hypogastric region also known
as the pubic region.
• On the sides of the abdomen the other six regions are the left and
right hypochondriac regions, on either side of the epigastrium; the
left and right lumbar flank regions, on either side of the umbilical
region, and the left and right iliac or inguinal regions on either side
of the hypogastrium.
• ("Hypo-" means below; "epi-" means above; "chondron" means
cartilage (in this case, the cartilage of the rib) and "gaster" means
stomach. The reversal of "left" and "right" is intentional, because
the anatomical designations reflect the patient's own right and left.)

13. Abdominopelvic Regions
Right Hypochondriac Region Contains
• Right lobe of Liver, gall bladder, a part of right kidney
Left Hypochondriac Region Contains
• A Part of stomach, spleen, a small part of pancreas, a part of left kidney
Right Lumber Region
• Part of small intestine,
• Superior part of cecum
• Ascending colon,
• Inferior part of right kidney

14. Abdominopelvic Regions
Left Lumber Region
• Part of small intestine,
• Descending colon,
• An inferior part of left
kidney
Right Iliac Region
• Lower end of cecum,
appendix
Left Iliac Region
• Part of small intestine,
• Part of sigmoid colon

15. Abdominopelvic Regions
Epigastric Region
• Greater part of liver, greater part of stomach,
• Greater part of pancreas
Umbilical Region
• Part of small intestine,
• Transverse colon of large intestine
Hypogastric Region
• Part of sigmoid colon
• Urinary bladder when

16. References
• Tortora, Gerard J., and Sandra Reynolds Grabowski. 1996. Principles of anatomy and
physiology. New York, NY: HarperCollins College.

17. Thanks
Any Question?