Levels of Organization and Abdominal Divisions

Coronal plane

Plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Epigastric

Term that means above the stomach.

Hypochondriac

Term used in the 9 abdominal regions to identify structures superior and lateral to the stomach.

Hypogastric

Term meaning below the stomach.

Iliac

Term meaning the lower lateral abdominal regions.

Inguinal

Term sometimes used in the 9 abdominal regions, indicating the lower lateral abdomen.

Lumbar

Term meaning the region of the low back and also used in the 9 abdominal region system for describing the location of structures lateral to the umbilicus.

Sagittal plane

Plane running down the middle of the body and dividing the body into right and left sections.

Transpyloric plane

The superior transverse plane used in the 9 abdominal region system.

Transtubercular plane

The inferior transverse plane used in the 9 abdominal region system.

Transverse plane

Plane dividing the body into superior and inferior sections.

Umbilicus

The naval which indicates the center of the abdomen.

Levels of Organization

The body is organized according to levels of complexity, from atom to organism.

Atom

The lowest level of complexity in the body organization.

Molecule

A level of complexity above atom.

Cell

A level of complexity above molecule.

Organ

A level of complexity above cell.

Organ System

A level of complexity above organ.

Organism

The highest level of complexity, referring to the human body.

4 quadrant method

A method to divide the abdomen using a sagittal and transverse plane intersecting at the umbilicus.

9 abdominal regions method

A more complex method to divide the abdomen into 9 equal sections using 4 planes.

Gallbladder

Organ located in the right upper quadrant.

Appendix

Organ located in the right lower quadrant.

Spleen

Organ located in the left upper quadrant.