the division of abdominal cavities in to different compartments and quadrants by using vertical and horizontal lines, such as supra colic and infra colic compartments , four quadrants, nine quadrants. and the organs present in each compartments respectively.

1. ABDOMINAL
QUADRANTS
DR SANA YASEEN
ANATOMY DEPARTMENT

2. Learning Objectives
Introduction to anterior abdominal wall
Abdominal lines and planes
Abdominal quadrants
Distribution of viscera’s within the quadrants

3. Introduction-Overview
 Region of trunk lies between diaphragm and pelvic inlet.
 Soft tissue region with little bony framework.
 Abdomen can be divided into large upper Abdominal cavity proper,
and lower part, the pelvic cavity.
 Intact abdominal wall is essential for support of contents
 Common problems-acute pain, swellings, blunt/penetrating trauma

4. Body cavities

5. Introduction-Osteology
 Thoracic cage covers-upper abdominal organs
 Abdominal skeleton- lumbar vertebrae, margin of thoracic cage, iliac and
pubic bone elements of pelvis
 Attachment to muscles, support, protection

6. Abdominal lines and planes
 Vertical lines- midpoint between anterior superior iliac spine and
pubic symphysis
 Transpyloric plane -horizontal plane-tips of 9th costal cartilage-L1
 Subcostal plane-horizontal plane-lowest point of costal cartilages-10th
costal cartilage-L3
 Intercristal plane-highest points of iliac crests-body of L4
 Intertubercular plane-tubercles of iliac crests-L5

7. TWO COMPARTMENTS
 The transverse colon divides the abdominal cavity into SUPRACOLIC
and INFRACOLIC compartment
 The infracolic comaprtment is divided into right and left infracolic
spaces by mesentry of small intestine
 Free communications occurs between the supracolic and infracolic
compartments through paracolic gutters

10. STRUTURES PRESENT IN SUPRA COLIC
AND INFRACOLIC COMPARTMENT
SUPRA COLIC COMPARTMENT INFRACOLIC COMPARTMENT
STOMACH
SPLEEN
LIVER
SMALL INTESTINE
ASCENDING COLON
DESCENDING COLON

11. ABDOMINAL QUARANTS
 Horizontal and Vertical lines that intersect at umbilicus
 Upper right/left, lower right/left
 Terms-
 epigastrium (area below xiphoid process and above umbilicus)
periumbilical (area around umbilicus)
 4 quadrants, 9 quadrants

12. Four quadrants

15. Nine quadrants
1. VERTICAL PLANES:
- left and right lateral planes
- midclavicular planes
-passes through the midpoint
between anterior superior iliac
spine and symphysis pubis
The abdominal cavity is divied into 9regions by two pairs of planes
2. HORIZONTAL PLANES
-subcostal plane
-at the level L3 vertebrae
- joins the lower end of costal
cartilage on each side
-intertubercular plane
- at the level of L5 vertebrae
-through tubercle of iliac crest