Anatomy and Physiology: Abdominal Regions and Quadrants

Importance

• Understanding abdominal regions and quadrants is crucial for healthcare professionals such as nurses.
• Used for performing abdominal assessments and documentation.

Four Abdominal Quadrants

• Divided by:
  • Horizontal plane (trans-umbilical plane)
  • Median plane
• Quadrants:
  • Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
  • Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
  • Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
  • Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Key Points

• Navel/Belly Button: Major landmark for quadrant locations.
• Right and Left Orientation: Based on the anatomical position (can appear flipped when viewed externally).

Major Organs by Quadrant

• Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ):
  • Liver, Stomach, Gallbladder, Duodenum, Right Kidney, Pancreas, Right Adrenal Gland
• Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ):
  • Liver, Stomach, Pancreas, Left Kidney, Spleen, Left Adrenal Gland
• Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ):
  • Appendix, Reproductive Organs, Right Ureter
• Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ):
  • Left Ureter, Reproductive Organs
• Common to All Quadrants:
  • Portions of the Small and Large Intestines

Nine Abdominal Regions

• Dividing Planes:
  • Two parasagittal planes (midclavicular) and two transverse planes (subcostal and intertubercular)

Regions

• Right and Left Columns: Named after nearby bones

  • Right and Left Hypochondriac: Below the ribs
  • Right and Left Lumbar: Near the lumbar vertebra in the lower back
  • Right and Left Iliac: Near the iliac crest of the hip bone

• Center Column: Named relative to the stomach

  • Epigastric: Above the stomach
  • Umbilical: Contains the navel
  • Hypogastric: Below the stomach

Memory Trick

• Columns: H (Hypochondriac), L (Lumbar), I (Iliac)
• Center Regions: E (Epigastric), U (Umbilical), H (Hypogastric)
• Mnemonic: "Hector loves Isabel every unceasing hour"

Major Organs by Region

• Right Hypochondriac: Liver, Gallbladder, Right Kidney, Intestines
• Epigastric: Liver, Stomach, Pancreas, Duodenum, Spleen, Adrenal Glands
• Left Hypochondriac: Spleen, Intestines, Left Kidney, Pancreas, Stomach, Liver
• Right Lumbar: Ascending Colon, Small Intestine, Right Kidney
• Umbilical: Duodenum, Small Intestine, Transverse Colon
• Left Lumbar: Descending Colon, Small Intestine, Left Kidney
• Right Iliac: Appendix, Cecum, Ascending Colon, Small Intestine
• Hypogastric: Bladder, Sigmoid Colon, Small Intestine, Reproductive Organs
• Left Iliac: Sigmoid Colon, Descending Colon, Small Intestine

Additional Resources

• Try the quiz to test your knowledge.
• Explore the anatomy and physiology playlist for more videos.

Note: These notes are a study aid for the abdominal regions and quadrants covered in anatomy and physiology courses, crucial for medical and nursing students.