Abdomen QuadrantsDescription

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)Doctors often assess this portion to localize pain and tenderness.Organs found in this quadrant include the liver, the gall bladder, duodenum the upper portion of the pancreas and the hepatic flexure of the colon.The RUQ is commonly tender in cases of hepatitis, cholecystitis and with the formation of a peptic ulcer.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)The right lower quadrant extends from the median plane to the right side of the body and then from the umbilical plane to the right inguinal ligament.Important organs found in the right lower quadrant include the appendix, the upper portion of the colon, the right ovary and Fallopian tube in women and the right ureterpenus.The right lower quadrant may be assessed when diagnosing appendicitis in which case this quadrant would be tender and painful.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)The left upper quadrant rests alongside the RUQ. The left upper quadrant is formed by the median plane extending to the left of the patient and with the umbilical plane to the left rib cage.Organs found in the left upper quadrant are the stomach, the spleen, the left portion of the liver, and the main body of the pancreas. The left portion of the kidney and the adrenal gland are also found in this quadrant. The splenic flexure of the colon and the bottom portion of the colon also sit in the left upper quadrant.The LUQ will be tender and a point of interest in cases of appendicitis and abnormalities of the intestines such as malrotation.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)The left lower quadrant is located below the umbilicus plane. Essential organs found in this region include the bottom portion of the colon, the sigmoid colon, the left ovary, Fallopian tube and the left uterine tube.The doctors will assess this area if there is abdominal pain in this region. Abdominal pain in the LLQ may be a symptom of colitis, diverticulitis, or ureteral colic. Pain in this region may also be caused by ovarian cysts or a pelvic inflammation. Tumors found in this region can be serious determinants of colon or ovarian cancer.

Abdomen RegionsOrgans

Right HypochondriumLiver, Gallbladder, Right Kidney, Small Intestine

Left HypochondriumSpleen, Colon, Left Kidney, Pancreas

EpigastriumStomach, Liver, Pancreas, Duodenum, Spleen, Adrenal Glands

Right Lumber RegionGallbladder, Liver, Right Colon

Left Lumber RegionDescending Colon, Left Kidney

Umbilical RegionUmbilicus, Jejunum, Ileum, Duodenum

Right Iliac FossaAppendix, Cecum

Left Iliac FossaDescending Colon, Sigmoid Colon

HypogastriumUrinary Bladder, Sigmoid Colon, Female Reproductive Organs

The primary survey is a quick maneuver that attempts to identify life-threatening problems, as follows: To assess the airway, ask the patient's name. If the answer is articulated clearly, the airway is patent. The oral pharynx is inspected for blood or foreign materials. The neck is inspected for hematomas or tracheal deviation. The lungs are auscultated and percussed for signs of pneumothorax or hemothorax. The radial and femoral pulses are palpated for strength and rate. A quick inspection is made to rule out any external sources of bleeding. A gross neurological examination is performed by asking the patient to squeeze each hand and dorsiflex both feet against pressure. Advanced trauma life support (ATLS) suggests that a "miniature" neurologic examination categorizes the patient's level of consciousness by whether the patient is alert, responds to voice, responds to pain, or is unresponsive (ie, AVPU). The patient then is exposed completely, taking care to maintain thermoregulation with blankets and external warming devices.The secondary examination is a head-to-toe, careful examination that attempts to identify all injuries, as follows: The scalp is inspected for bleeding. Any active bleeding from the scalp should be controlled before proceeding with the examination. The mouth and pharynx are examined for blood. The abdomen is inspected and palpated. Distention, pain on palpation, and external ecchymosis are indications of intra-abdominal bleeding. The pelvis is palpated for stability. Crepitus or instability may be an indication of a pelvis fracture, which can cause life-threatening hemorrhage into the retroperitoneum. Long bone fractures are noted by localized pain to palpation and boney crepitus at the site of fracture. All long bone fractures should be straightened and splinted to prevent ongoing bleeding at the sites. Femur fractures are especially prone to large blood losses and should be immobilized immediately in a traction splint. Further diagnostic tests are warranted to diagnose intrathoracic, intra-abdominal, or retroperitoneal bleeding.