Quadrants of the Abdomen

This set of flashcards features key anatomical terms and definitions related to the quadrants of the abdomen, aiding in the understanding of abdominal organ locations.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Contains the liver (right lobe), gallbladder, stomach (pylorus), duodenum (parts 1-3), pancreas (head), right suprarenal gland, right kidney, right colic (hepatic) flexure, ascending colon (superior part), and transverse colon (right half).

Liver: Right Lobe

The larger portion of the liver located in the right upper quadrant.

Gallbladder

A small organ that stores bile, found in the right upper quadrant.

Stomach: Pylorus

The lower section of the stomach that connects to the duodenum, located in the right upper quadrant.

Duodenum: Parts 1-3

The first part of the small intestine, consisting of three sections, located in the right upper quadrant.

Pancreas: Head

The wide part of the pancreas, situated in the right upper quadrant.

Right Suprarenal Gland

Hormone-secreting gland located atop the right kidney in the right upper quadrant.

Right Kidney

One of the pair of organs that filter waste from the blood, located in the right upper quadrant.

Right Colic (Hepatic) Flexure

The bend in the colon located in the right upper quadrant.

Ascending Colon: Superior Part

The upward section of the colon, located in the right upper quadrant.

Transverse Colon: Right Half

The section of the colon that crosses the abdomen, located in the right upper quadrant.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Contains the liver (left lobe), spleen, stomach, jejunum and proximal ileum, pancreas (body and tail), left kidney, left suprarenal gland, left colic (splenic) flexure, transverse colon (left half), and descending colon (superior part).

Liver: Left Lobe

The smaller portion of the liver located in the left upper quadrant.

Spleen

An organ involved in recycling blood cells and immune function, found in the left upper quadrant.

Stomach

The organ where food is digested, located in the left upper quadrant.

Jejunum and Proximal Ileum

The middle and first parts of the small intestine, found in the left upper quadrant.

Pancreas: Body and Tail

The central and distal portions of the pancreas, located in the left upper quadrant.

Left Kidney

One of the pair of organs that filter waste from the blood, situated in the left upper quadrant.

Left Suprarenal Gland

Hormone-secreting gland located atop the left kidney in the left upper quadrant.

Left Colic (Splenic) Flexure

The bend in the colon located in the left upper quadrant.

Transverse Colon: Left Half

The left section of the colon that crosses the abdomen.

Descending Colon: Superior Part

The downward section of the colon, located in the left upper quadrant.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Contains the cecum, vermiform appendix, most of ileum, ascending colon (inferior part), right ovary, right uterine tube, right ureter (abdominal part), right spermatic cord (abdominal part), uterus (if enlarged), and urinary bladder (if very full).

Cecum

The beginning of the large intestine, located in the right lower quadrant.

Vermiform Appendix

A tube-shaped sac attached to the cecum, located in the right lower quadrant.

Most of Ileum

The final section of the small intestine, located in the right lower quadrant.

Ascending Colon: Inferior Part

The lower section of the colon, located in the right lower quadrant.

Right Ovary

The female reproductive organ that produces eggs, located in the right lower quadrant.

Right Uterine Tube

The tube through which eggs pass from the ovary, located in the right lower quadrant.

Right Ureter: Abdominal Part

The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, located in the right lower quadrant.

Right Spermatic Cord: Abdominal Part

The cord that contains blood vessels, nerves, and the vas deferens, in males located in the right lower quadrant.

Uterus (if Enlarged)

The organ that houses the developing fetus, located in the right lower quadrant if enlarged.

Urinary Bladder (if Very Full)

The organ that stores urine, located in the right lower quadrant if very full.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Contains the sigmoid colon, descending colon (inferior part), left ovary, left uterine tube, left ureter (abdominal part), left spermatic cord (abdominal part), uterus (if enlarged), and urinary bladder (if very full).

Sigmoid Colon

The S-shaped section of the large intestine, located in the left lower quadrant.

Descending Colon: Inferior Part

The lower section of the colon, located in the left lower quadrant.

Left Ovary

The female reproductive organ that produces eggs, located in the left lower quadrant.

Left Uterine Tube

The tube through which eggs pass from the ovaries, located in the left lower quadrant.

Left Ureter: Abdominal Part

The tube that carries urine from the left kidney to the bladder, located in the left lower quadrant.

Left Spermatic Cord: Abdominal Part

The cord that contains blood vessels, nerves, and the vas deferens of the left side, located in the left lower quadrant.

Uterus (if Enlarged)

The organ that houses the developing fetus, located in the left lower quadrant if enlarged.

Urinary Bladder (if Very Full)

The organ that stores urine, located in the left lower quadrant if very full.