Identifying Abdominal Quadrants & Regions

Mrs. Burgstiner,BSN

HSTE I

What you will learn:

You will be able to identify the four quadrants of the abdominal cavity.

You will be able to identify the nine regions of the abdomen.

You will be able to state why identifying the regions is important.

Why is it important that healthcare professionals be able to properly identify the different regions of the abdomen?

Abdomen is a large area of the body that contains many organs; The abdomen consist of the area just above the liver called the Diaphragm (dome- shaped muscle important in respiration) down to the iliac (bone locate at pelvis).

Commonality and professionalism within the healthcare profession: A healthcare professional can describe problems in a certain abdominal region to another healthcare professional and both will know what area is being described.

What organs are located within the abdomen?

Liver Stomach Spleen Pancreas Gall Bladder

Small Intestine Large Intestine Kidneys Bladder Ovaries

Proper Anatomical Position

The anatomical position is a way to describe the human body. The person is: -In an erect standing position - The head, eyes and toes pointing forward - Feet are pointing forward with arms by the side - The palms of the hands are also point forward

- The patients left and right not your left and right are used to describe the patients body.

                   

                          

Four Abdominal Quadrants:

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Left Lower Quadrant

(LLQ)

Right Hypochondriac

Region

Abdominal Regions

Right Iliac Region

Right Lumbar Region

Left Hypochondriac Region

Left Lumbar Region

Left Iliac Region

Epigastric Region

Hypogastric Region

Umbilical Region

Let’s Review

Why is it important for healthcare professionals to know the abdominal regions?

What part of body is considered the abdominal region?

From the Diaphragm to the Iliac is considered the abdominal region.

Name the organs found in the abdominal region.

How many regions divide the abdomen?

Let’s name them: 1.Epigastric Region

2.Hypogastric Region 3.Umbilical Region 4.Right Hypochondriac

Region 5.Left Hypochondriac

Region 6.Right Lumbar Region

7.Left Lumbar Region 8.Right Iliac Region

9.Left Iliac Region