abdominal quadrants & body sections

right upper quadrant (RUQ)

contains much of the liver, the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and parts of the small and large intestines

left upper quadrant (LUQ)

contains the rest of the liver, the stomach, the spleen, the rest of the pancreas, and parts of the small and large intestines

right lower quadrant (RLQ)

contains part of the small and large intestine, the appendix, and part of the bladder

left lower quadrant (LLQ)

contains parts of the small and large intestines and part of the bladder

longitudinal

cuts, planes, or sections along the long axis

cross/transverse or horizontal

cuts, planes, or sections across the long axis

midsagittal/median plane

vertical plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves

sagittal plane

any vertical plane that is parallel to the median plane

coronal plane

a plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts

transverse plane

a plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions