Abdominal Regions

What is an Abdominal Region?

The abdominal region is anatomically divided into nine distinct areas, each serving as a reference point for identifying the location of pain, symptoms, or medical conditions. These regions are arranged in a grid pattern and are crucial in clinical assessments, diagnostic procedures, and understanding the human body’s structure.

Several crucial organs needed for digestion, excretion, and reproduction are located in the abdomen, making it an important part of the human body. In the medical sciences, knowledge of its anatomical structure and division into regions is essential for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

For descriptive and clinical reasons, the abdominal regions are typically separated into nine quadrants or zones. During physical examinations, medical imaging, and procedures, these divisions aid healthcare practitioners in precisely localizing and communicating findings. The distinct organs and tissues associated with each region facilitate the diagnosis of a range of diseases and disorders affecting the abdomen.

In anatomy and physiology, you will discover how to divide the abdomen into nine different regions and four different quadrants. If your goal is to work in healthcare as a nurse, you will use this on a daily basis when performing abdominal examinations (and when recording).

The region between the thorax (thoracic diaphragm) and the pelvis (pelvic brim) in vertebrates, including humans, is known as the abdomen. The abdomen can be divided into nine divisions or zones for descriptive purposes.

Anatomical regions of the Abdomen

The abdomen is composed of multiple anatomical sections, each with a unique boundary and interior. The abdominal muscles support and shield the vital organs below, helping to stabilize the spine.

The Four Abdominal Quadrants

Let us first examine the four quadrants, which are produced by the junction of the median (or midsagittal) plane and the transverse (or horizontal) plane, sometimes referred to as the transumbilical plane.

Since the left upper quadrant (LUQ), left lower quadrant (LLQ), right upper quadrant (RUQ), and right lower quadrant (RLQ) comprise the four quadrants, they are simple to recall.

It is always understood in reference to the physical position, not from your point of view, what “left or right” and “upper or lower” mean. Keep in mind that most pupils confuse their left and right areas, so take care to avoid making the same mistake.

Major Organs in the Four Quadrants

The following are some of the primary organs that are located in each of the four abdominal quadrants:

• Right upper quadrant: The right upper quadrant contains the right kidney, pancreas, liver, stomach, gallbladder, duodenum, and right adrenal gland.
• Left upper quadrant: The pancreas, left kidney, spleen, liver, and left adrenal gland are all located in this area.
• Right lower quadrant: The appendix, the reproductive organs, and the right ureter are located in this region.
• left lower quadrant: The left lower quadrant contains the reproductive organs and the left ureter.

NOTE: Each of the four quadrants contains portions of the small and large intestines.

The Nine Abdominal Regions

The intertubercular plane, also known as the inferior transverse plane, crosses the pelvic tubercles directly below the navel.

As they have the same name (differentiated by a left or right prefix) and have subsequently named the bones that are nearest to them, let’s begin by talking about the right and left columns.

Think about how memorizing common prefixes and suffixes will be very beneficial when studying anatomy, as you’ll need them again.

Hypochondriac Regions on the Left and Right: The word “hypo” means below or under. The prefix “chondritic” describes cartilage, more especially rib cartilage. When we combine the ribs, this portion of the abdomen is below them.

Left and Right Lumbar Regions: That is where this area’s name came from. Unlike the sections on the left and right side columns, these sections are named according to where they are in the stomach rather than the names of the bones. This therefore refers to the region above and above the belly.

Among the nine regions are:

• Right hypochondriac region
• Epigastric region
• Left hypochondriac region
• Right lumbar region
• Umbilical region
• Left lumbar region
• Right iliac (inguinal) region
• Hypogastric (pubic) region
• Left iliac (inguinal) region
• Converging the pelvic tubercles, the inferior transverse plane, also known as the intertubercular plane, passes slightly below the navel.
• After naming the bones that are closest to them later on, let’s begin by talking about the right and left columns, which share the same name but are distinguished by a left or right prefix. Remember, when studying anatomy, knowing the common prefixes and suffixes will come in very handy.
• Hypochondriac Regions (Left and Right): The terms “Hippo” and “below” refer to the left and right hypochondriac regions. Underneath the ribs when we combine them is this region of the abdomen. There are hypochondriac areas on your left and right, yes.
• Lumbar Regions (Left and Right): Lumbar refers to the vertebrae in your lower back that are closest to the lumbar region.
• Left and Right Iliac Region: We have now completed the columns on the left and the right.
• Epigastric Region:  The words “gastric” and “epi” denote the stomach or belly, respectively, and above or over.
• Umbilical Region: The umbilicus, another name for your navel, is easily remembered because it is situated in the umbilical region.
• Hypogastric Region: The definitions of hypo and gastric, as is already known, are “below” and “belly,” respectively.
• If you are looking for a quick memory trick to help you remember the names of these sections, just remember that the side columns have the same titles from top to bottom: iliac, lumbar, and hypochondriac (HLI). The umbilical, hypogastric, and epigastric regions are those in the middle column (EUH). Remember this fashion statement: Hector loves Isabel unconditionally.

Organs in the Nine Abdominal Regions

Although most instructors of basic anatomy don’t require you to know every organ’s location based on memory, they do expect you to have a general understanding of where each organ is located.

• Right Hypochondriac Region: Gallbladder, liver, right kidney, and sections of the small and large intestines
• Epigastric Region: This area of the body, which also comprises a portion of the liver, contains the stomach, pancreas, duodenum, spleen, and adrenal glands.
• Left Hypochondriac Region: The stomach, big or small intestines, liver tip, pancreas, and spleen are located in this area of the left hypochondriac.
• Right Lumbar Region: The right kidney, part of the small intestine, and the ascending colon are located in this region.
• Umbilical Region: small intestine, duodenum, and transverse colon.
• Left Lumbar Region: left kidney, small intestine, and descending colon.
• Right Iliac Region: appendix, cecum.
• Right Iliac Region: The reproductive organs, small intestine, bladder, and a portion of the sigmoid colon are located in the hypogastric region.
• Left Iliac Region: small intestine, descending colon.

Differential Diagnosis

Children

• gastroenteritis
• mesenteric adenitis
• Meckel’s diverticulitis
• intussusception
• Henoch–Schönlein purpura
• Lobar pneumonia

Adults

• regional enteritis
• renal colic
• perforated peptic ulcer
• testicular torsion
• rectus sheath hematoma
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• ectopic pregnancy
• endometriosis
• torsion/rupture of ovarian cyst
• appendicitis

Elderly

• diverticulitis
• intestinal obstruction
• colonic carcinoma
• mesenteric ischemia
• leaking aortic aneurysm

Clinical Significance

Abdominal divisions are crucial to many facets of medical practice, including:

• Methods for physical examinations: Physicians utilize the abdominal regions as reference points for auscultation, percussion, and palpation during physical examinations.
• Diagnostic imaging and interpretation: Radiologists and clinicians usually refer to abdominal areas when discussing and interpreting results from imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound.
• Surgical techniques and considerations: Surgeons use the abdominal regions to plan incisions, expose specific organs, and perform procedures such as laparoscopy and laparotomy.
• Differential diagnosis of abdominal diseases: The localization of physical findings and symptoms within specific abdominal regions facilitates differential diagnosis and narrows the range of probable diagnoses for abdominal disorders.
• If the lower left quadrant is the site of peritonitis or abdominal pain, then possible diagnoses are pelvic inflammatory disease, diverticulitis, colitis, ureteral colic, or stomach pain from ovarian cysts. Cancers like colon and ovarian cancer can affect the left lower quadrant.
• Intestinal malrotation may cause the LUQ to feel uncomfortable or sore. The RLQ, particularly the right iliac fossa and inguinal area, can become sensitive and painful in conditions such as appendicitis.
• Its presence is important because it can signal acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis, abdominal injury, or even metastatic malignancy.

Conclusion

Healthcare personnel involved in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal disorders need to have a thorough understanding of the abdominal areas. Clinicians can improve the quality of patient care, increase the accuracy of their diagnoses, and improve surgical results by being familiar with the anatomical divisions and clinical relevance of abdominal regions.

FAQs

References

• Serasiya, A. (2022, October 14). Abdominal regions. Samarpan Physiotherapy Clinic. https://samarpanphysioclinic.com/abdominal-regions/
• Physiotherapist, N. P. (2024b, March 9). Abdominal Regions – Mobile Physiotherapy Clinic. Mobile Physiotherapy Clinic. https://mobilephysiotherapyclinic.in/abdominal-regions/