Abdominal quadrants, regions and planes Flashcards
What is the abdominal cavity?
A space containing organs, bounded by musculo-aponeurotic walls anterolaterally
It is sometimes referred to as the belly or torso.
What separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity?
The diaphragm
Which organs are protected by the rib cage in the upper abdominal cavity?
- Spleen
- Liver
- Stomach
- Parts of the kidneys
What term is used to describe both the abdominal and pelvic cavities together?
Abdominopelvic cavity
What is the imaginary plane that separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity?
Pelvic inlet
What are the two types of pelvis defined by the pelvic inlet?
- Greater (false) pelvis. above
- Lesser (true) pelvis. below
How many anatomical quadrants is the abdomen divided into?
Four
What are the names of the four quadrants of the abdomen?
- Right upper quadrant
- Left upper quadrant
- Right lower quadrant
- Left lower quadrant
Which organs are located in the right upper quadrant?
- Right lobe of the liver
- Gallbladder
- Head of the pancreas
- First to third part of the duodenum
- Right colic flexure
Which organs are located in the left upper quadrant?
- Left lobe of the liver
- Stomach
- Spleen
- Body of the pancreas
- Left colic flexure
What organs can be found in the right lower quadrant?
- Ascending colon
- Cecum
- Appendix
- Lower portion of the right kidney
What organs are found in the left lower quadrant?
- Descending colon
- Sigmoid colon
- Lower portion of the left kidney
What additional structures are present in the lower quadrants for genetically female individuals?
- Ovaries
- Parts of the uterus
What additional structures are present in the lower quadrants for genetically male individuals?
Spermatic cords
How many distinct regions does the regional system divide the abdomen into?
Nine
What anatomical lines are used to define the nine abdominal regions?
- Midclavicular lines
- Subcostal plane
- Transtubercular plane
Where does the subcostal plane run?
Just below the tenth rib’s costal cartilage
What is the transpyloric plane?
A landmark that passes through the L1 vertebrae, midway between the manubrium and pubic symphysis
What structures are located at the transpyloric plane?
- Lower portion of the stomach (pylorus)
- Hila of the kidneys
- Fundus of the gallbladder
- Neck of the pancreas
- Transverse colon
- Junction between the duodenum and jejunum
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Hepatic portal vein
What organ is primarily found in the epigastric region?
Upper portion of the stomach
What does the umbilical region contain?
- Most of the small intestine
- Part of the large intestine
- Pancreas
- Parts of the left and right kidneys
What organs can be found in the hypogastric region?
- Sigmoid colon
- Bladder
- Rectum
- Reproductive organs (e.g., uterus, ovaries, prostate)
What is contained in the right hypochondriac region?
- Right part of the liver
- Gallbladder
- Large and small intestine
- Parts of the right kidney
What is found in the left hypochondriac region?
- Spleen
- Parts of the left kidney
- Portions of the stomach
- Pancreas
- Colon
What does the right lumbar region contain?
- Lower parts of the gallbladder
- Liver
- Right kidney
- Ascending colon
What is located in the left lumbar region?
- Portions of the descending colon
- Left kidney
What organs are found in the right inguinal or iliac region?
- Appendix
- Cecum
What organs are contained in the left inguinal or iliac region?
- Descending colon
- Sigmoid colon
What is the superior border of the abdominal cavity?
Diaphragm
What is the inferior border of the abdominal cavity?
Pelvic inlet
What two planes can define the upper portion of the abdomen?
- Subcostal plane
- Transpyloric plane
