Medical Terminology

• Right hypochondriac region

• Epigastric region

• Left hypochondriac region

• Right lumbar region

• Umbilical region

• Left lumbar region

• Right inguinal (iliac) region

• Hypogastric region

• Left inguinal (iliac) region

A simpler way to divide the abdominal cavity is into four quadrants. 

Abdominal Quadrants

• Right upper quadrant

• Left upper quadrant

• Right lower quadrant

• Left lower quadrant 

TABLE 2-4 Methods of Subdividing the Abdominopelvic Cavity (continued)

Clinical Divisions of the Abdomen

• Right upper quadrant (RUQ): Contains majority of liver, gallbladder, small portion of pancreas, right kidney, small intestine, and colon

  
  

• Right lower quadrant (RLQ): Contains small intestine and colon, right ovary and fallopian tube, appendix, and right ureter

  
  

• Left upper quadrant (LUQ): Contains small portion of liver, spleen, stomach, majority of pancreas, left kidney, small intestine, and colon

  
  

• Left lower quadrant (LLQ): Contains small intestine and colon, left ovary and fallopian tube, and left ureter

  
  

• Midline organs: uterus, bladder, prostate gland

  
  

Diagram Labels

RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT (RUQ)

• Liver (majority)

  
  

• Right kidney

  
  

• Colon

  
  

• Pancreas (small portion)

  
  

• Gallbladder

  
  

• Small intestine

  
  

LEFT UPPER QUADRANT (LUQ)

• Liver (small portion)

  
  

• Spleen

  
  

• Left kidney

  
  

• Stomach

  
  

• Colon

  
  

• Pancreas (majority)

  
  

• Small intestine

  
  

RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT (RLQ)

• Colon

  
  

• Small intestine

  
  

• Right ureter

  
  

• Appendix

  
  

• Right ovary (female)

  
  

• Right fallopian tube (female)

  
  

LEFT LOWER QUADRANT (LLQ)

Colon

Small intestine

Left ureter

Left ovary (female)

Left fallopian tube (female)

MIDLINE

• Bladder - Uterus (female) - Prostate (male)

Anatomical planes are imaginary flat surfaces used to divide the human body for anatomical reference:

• Sagittal Plane: Runs vertically from front to back, dividing the body into right and left portions.

  • A midsagittal (median) plane runs directly down the midline, dividing the body into equal right and left halves.

  • A parasagittal plane divides the body into unequal right and left portions.

• Transverse Plane (Horizontal or Axial Plane): Runs horizontally across the body, dividing it into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) portions.

• Frontal Plane (Coronal Plane): Runs vertically from side to side, dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions.

  

Patient body positioning in nursing is essential for physical examinations, surgical access, improving breathing, and preventing pressure ulcers.

• Supine Position: Patient lies flat on their back, face up. Used for abdominal assessments, anterior chest examinations, and general recovery.

  
  

• Prone Position: Patient lies flat on their stomach with the head turned to one side. Used for spinal assessments, back examinations, and improving oxygenation in severe respiratory conditions.

  
  

• Fowler's Positions: Patient sits with the head of the bed elevated:

  
  

  • Semi-Fowler’s (15°–30°): Reduces spinal strain; commonly used for resting and tube feeding.

    
    

  • Standard Fowler’s (45°–60°): Facilitates chest expansion, eating, chest exams, and nasogastric tube insertion.

    
    

  • High Fowler’s (60°–90°): Maximizes chest expansion for patients experiencing severe breathing difficulty (dyspnea).

    
    

• Lateral (Side-Lying) Position: Patient lies on one side with the upper hip and knee flexed. Used to relieve pressure on the sacrum, spine, and heels to prevent bedsores.

  
  

• Sims' Position (Semi-Prone): Patient lies halfway between side-lying and prone, with the upper leg flexed toward the chest. Standard position for enemas, rectal examinations, and rectal medication administration.

  
  

• Trendelenburg Position: Bed is tilted so the patient's head is lower than their feet. Used for specific pelvic/lower abdominal surgeries and vascular access.

  
  

• Reverse Trendelenburg Position: Bed is tilted so the head is higher than the feet. Promotes gastric emptying and helps prevent gastroesophageal reflux.

  
  

• Lithotomy Position: Patient lies on their back with hips and knees flexed and legs supported in stirrups. Used for gynecological exams, childbirth, and urological procedures.

• 
  

  Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms
  Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
  ABG	arterial blood gas
  ADL	activities of daily living
  AIDS	acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
  AM	in the morning or before noon
  Amb	ambulatory
  ASAP	as soon as possible
  ASHD	arteriosclerotic heart disease
  BID, b.i.d.	twice a day
  BMR	basic metabolic rate
  B/P, BP	blood pressure
  BS	blood sugar
  °C	centigrade, Celsius temperature
  c̅	with
  Ca	calcium
  CA	cancer
  Cath	catheter; catheterization
  cap	capsule
  CBC	complete blood count
  cc	cubic centimeter
  CCU	coronary care unit
  CHF	congestive heart failure
  cm	centimeter
  CNS	central nervous system
  COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  CSF	cerebrospinal fluid
  CT scan	computerized tomography scan
  CVA	cerebrovascular accident
  D&C	dilatation and curettage
  DOA	dead on arrival
  DOB	date of birth
  Dx	diagnosis
  ECG; EKG	electrocardiogram
  ED; ER	emergency department; emergency room
  EMG	electromyogram
  ENT	ear, nose, and throat
  FBS	fasting blood sugar
  FDA	Food and Drug Administration
  Fe	iron
  FUO	fever of unknown origin
  Fx	fracture
  GB	gallbladder
  gm	gram
  gtt	drop
  HBV	hepatitis B virus
  Hgb	hemoglobin
  HIV	human immunodeficiency virus
  ICU	intensive care unit
  IV	intravenous
  kg	kilogram
  L&D	labor and delivery
  L, l	left, liter
  lab	laboratory
  LPN, LVN	licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse
  lytes	electrolytes
  mcg	microgram
  MD	Doctor of Medicine
  mEq	milliequivalents
  mg	milligram
  MI	myocardial infarction
  ml	milliliter
  mm	millimeter
  MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
  MRSA	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  N/A	not applicable, not available
  NPO	nothing by mouth
  OB/GYN	obstetrics/gynecology
  OD	overdose, right eye
  OR	operating room
  ORTH	orthopedics
  oz	ounce
  PDR	Physician’s Desk Reference
  PID	pelvic inflammatory disease
  p.o.	by mouth
  p/o	postoperative
  preop	before surgery
  pt	patient
  q	every
  QID, q.i.d.	four times a day
  R	respiration, right
  ROM	range of motion
  R/O	rule out
  RT	right, radiation therapy
  Rx	prescription
  s̅	without
  Staph.	Staphylococcus
  STAT, stat.	immediately
  STI, STD	sexually transmitted infection; sexually transmitted disease
  T&A	tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
  TIA	transient ischemic attack
  TID, t.i.d.	three times a day
  TPR	temperature, pulse, respirations
  UA	urinalysis
  URI	upper respiratory infection
  UTI	urinary tract infection
  VD	venereal disease
  VS	vital signs
  wt	weight

  "In some cases, abbreviations can cause confusion that leads to incorrect interpretations and results in serious errors. As a result, some healthcare facilities are moving toward restricting or eliminating the use of medical abbreviations.

  The Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use List” includes abbreviations that the Commission recommends organizations stop using. This includes eliminating these dangerous abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dosage designations from the organization’s software. The items on this list can cause serious problems if mistaken for an incorrect designation" (Fremgen & Frucht, 2024).

  The Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use List"
  Do Not Use	Potential Problem	Use Instead
  U, u (unit)	mistaken for 0 (zero), the number 4 (four), or cc	write unit
  IU (International Unit)	mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten)	write International Unit
  Q.D., QD, q.d., qd. (daily)	mistaken for abbreviations in next row	write daily
  Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod (every other day)	mistaken for abbreviations in row above	write every other day
  Trailing zero (X.0 mg)	decimal point is missed	write X mg
  Lack of leading zero (.X mg)	decimal point is missed	write 0.X mg
  MS	can mean “morphine sulfate” or “magnesium sulfate”	write morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate
  MSO4 and MgSO4	confused for one another	write magnesium sulfa