Abdominal Quadrants, Organs, and Associated Conditions

Abdominal Quadrants Overview

• Abdomen is clinically divided into four quadrants: Right/Left, Upper/Lower.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

• Right liver lobe, gallbladder, right kidney
• Portions of ascending & transverse colon
• Parts of small intestine
• Pain: infection/inflammation of gallbladder or liver, peptic gastric ulcers

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

• Left liver lobe, part of stomach
• Pancreas, left kidney, spleen
• Transverse & descending colon segments
• Parts of small intestine
• Pain: intestinal/colonic malrotation

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

• Cecum, appendix
• Part of small intestine
• Right ureter, right half of female reproductive organs
• Pain: appendicitis (most common)

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

• Majority of small intestine
• Some large intestine
• Left ureter, left half of female reproductive organs
• Pain: colitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts