To facilitate clinical description, the general topography of the abdomen is divided into four quadrants or nine regions by lines on the surface of the anterior abdominal wall.
Abdominal regions
Four quadrant scheme
The four quadrants are created by vertical and horizontal lines passing through the umbilicus.
right upper quadrant (RUQ)
left upper quadrant (LUQ)
right lower quadrant (RLQ)
left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Nine region scheme
midclavicular lines - two vertical lines are the midclavicular lines which extend to the mid inguinal point
intertubercular plane - a lower transverse line drawn between the tubercles of the iliac crest
transpyloric plane - an upper transverse line which lies midway between the suprasternal notch and superior surface of the symphysis pubis (or between the xiphisternum and umbilicus.
Using the four lines, the three central regions created between them, from above down are:
epigastrium
umbilical
suprapubic (a.k.a. hypogastrium)
Similarly, the paired lateral regions from above down are:
hypochondrial (a.k.a. hypochondrium)
lumbar
iliac (a.k.a. inguinal/groin)
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.