
Common Causes
What organs are in each quadrant quizlet?
- Right Upper Quadrant. Liver, Right Kidney, Colon, Pancreas, Gallblader.
- Left Upper Quadrant. Liver, Spleen, Left Kidney, Stomach, Colon, Pancreas.
- Right Lower Quadrant. Right kidney, colon, small intestines, major artery and vein to the right leg, ureter, appendix, bladder.
- Left Lower Quadrant.
Related Conditions
Your left upper quadrant houses several vital body organs, including:
- Stomach
- Spleen
- Kidneys
- Body of the pancreas
- Part of the Liver
- Adrenal glands
- Splenic flexure of the colon
- Gall bladder
- Part of the small intestine known as the duodenum
What organs are found in left upper quadrant?
These regions are named by their location:
- The Right Upper Quadrant, or RUQ
- The Right Lower Quadrant, or RLQ
- The Left Upper Quadrant, or LUQ
- and the Left Lower Quadrant, or the LLQ
What organs are in the upper left quadrant?
The lower left side of your abdomen is home to the last part of your colon, and for some, the left ovary in those who have them. Minor pain in this area is usually nothing to worry about. It may clear up on its own in a day or so.
What are the four quadrants of the abdomen?
What is on lower left side of abdomen?

What can cause pain in the upper left quadrant?
What are the common causes of left upper quadrant pain?Problems with the spleen. ... Problems with your guts (bowels) ... Shingles. ... Kidney stones and infections. ... Pain coming from the aorta. ... Pain coming from the pancreas. ... Pain coming from a problem in your lungs. ... Pain coming from a problem with your heart.More items...•
Which organ is in the left upper quadrant of an abdominal assessment?
The left upper quadrant (LUQ) contains part of the pancreas, spleen, part of the transverse colon, left lobe of the liver, stomach, and left kidney and part of its ureter, and part of the urinary bladder.
What organ is on your upper left side under rib cage?
The spleen sits under your rib cage in the upper left part of your abdomen toward your back. It is an organ that is part of the lymph system and works as a drainage network that defends your body against infection.
What organs are in the left upper quadrant?
Organs in the left upper quadrant include the stomach, spleen, left portion of the liver, main body of the pancreas, the left portion of the kidney, adrenal glands, splenix flexure of the colon, and bottom part of the colon.
Why do I have a lump on the left side of my upper stomach?
Stomach cancer can cause a mass in the left-upper abdomen in the stomach area (epigastric) if the cancer is large. Uterine leiomyoma (fibroids) can cause a round, lumpy mass above the pelvis in the lower abdomen (sometimes can be felt if the fibroids are large). Volvulus can cause a mass anywhere in the abdomen.
When should I worry about upper left side pain?
When to see a doctor. As you can see, the cause of upper left abdominal pain varies significantly and may be from something as minor as heartburn. However, if the pain is new, persistent, and severe, you should visit your doctor.
What does pain from the spleen feel like?
Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. It may be tender when you touch the area. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.
What does enlarged spleen feel like?
An enlarged spleen typically causes no signs or symptoms, but sometimes it causes: Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder. A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating a small amount because the spleen is pressing on your stomach. Low red blood cells (anemia)
Which of the following organs is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen quizlet?
The stomach is in the left upper quadrant. You just studied 62 terms!
What organ is located in all 4 quadrants?
The colon, for example, has portions across all four quadrants of your body. This is why it is important for you to explain to your medical professional not just where your pain is located, but the nature of the pain and any other symptoms that you are experiencing.
Which quadrant is the gallbladder?
right upper quadrantThe right upper quadrant contains the right portion of the liver, the gallbladder, right kidney, a small portion of the stomach, the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, portions of the ascending and transverse colon, and parts of small intestine.
What quadrant is the liver located in?
Right Upper QuadrantRight Upper Quadrant (RUQ): contains the liver (right lobe), gallbladder, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ): contains the liver (left lobe), stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines.
Where is my left upper quadrant?
The left upper quadrant (LUQ) is a section of your tummy (abdomen). Look down at your tummy, and mentally divide the area from the bottom of your ribs down to your pubes into four quarters. The quarter on your left side closest to your ribs is your LUQ.
What are the common causes of left upper quadrant pain in pregnancy?
However, in pregnancy a common cause of discomfort is the sheer pressure of the womb pressing on other organs , and pressing them into the diaphragm. Also problems with indigestion tend to be common in pregnancy, again at least partly due to the pressure on the stomach. Urinary tract infections are also more common in pregnancy.
What causes pain in the middle of the stomach?
For example: Stomach ulcers. Stomach ulcers tend to give you pain in the middle of your tummy just under your ribs.
What side of the stomach does the leaflet look at?
This leaflet looks at pains which can develop in the upper part of the tummy (abdomen) on your left hand side. It deals with possible causes (such as stomach ulcers or pancreatitis ), how a diagnosis might be made and what the treatment might be.
Where is the spleen located?
Your spleen is just behind your stomach, under and behind the lower ribs on your left. Its main functions are to filter your blood, create new blood cells and store platelets. It is also a key part of your body's immune system. It may cause pain:
Which organ crosses the midline?
Pancreas (a part of it - it crosses the midline). Left kidney (at the back behind the other organs) and left adrenal gland. Upper part of the large bowel (colon). A small part of your liver (most of it is on the right side, but a small part of it crosses over the midline into your LUQ).
Where does kidney pain come from?
So this could be anywhere from the loin in your back, round to the front, the LUQ, or down to the lower part of your tummy. It may be associated with a fever, pain when you wee, or going to the loo more frequently.
What quadrant of the abdomen is the pain?
Since so much of your abdominal organs and muscles are found in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, there are many conditions and injuries that can cause abdominal pain to be experienced there. Here you will find information on the most common causes found.
Where is the pain in the upper left quadrant?
There are many organs in your upper left abdominal quadrant that can be affected, causing pain in that area. Treatment for LUQ pain depends on cause. Abdominal pain occurs in the area between your chest and your pelvis, and is something that everyone has experienced. It can be as simple as a little tummy ache to more severe medical conditions ...
How to treat abdominal pain?
Most of the time dehydration will occur, so doctors will want to control that first either through electrolytic fluids drinken orally or from a fluid drip. Antibiotics are helpful in treating most of the diseases listed above and diuretics are used to treat kidney problems.
Why does my left side of my abdomen hurt?
Upper left abdominal pain is accompanied by fever, chills and vomiting. Do not confuse kidney infections with kidney stones as their causes are different and treatments will vary. Pneumonia is another common reason for abdominal pain and is caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus.
What is the pain in the abdominal wall?
Chest and Abdominal Wall - Localized muscular and skeletal pain, sometimes due to chronic diseases, you will experience spinal pain from illnesses such as shingles.
How long does abdominal pain last?
Your abdominal pain can be acute and short lived. However, there are many cases in which abdominal pain is chronic, lasting for days, weeks or even months. Hopefully, if you are experiencing chronic abdominal ...
What is the pain in the upper left side of the abdomen?
Pain in the upper left side of your abdomen, often referred to as upper left quadrant pain, is usually indicative of something wrong with the organs and/or tissue structures located on that area of the torso. Part of your bowel, your spleen, the end part of the pancreas, part of the stomach, the left part of your liver, the left side of your kidneys, a portion of your ureter, the left adrenal gland, part of your left lung, the lower portion of your left ribs, the aorta, many muscles and skin are all located in this upper left quadrant of your abdomen. Your heart is also situated just above this area. Any issue or condition in any of these organs, bones, tissues or muscles will directly cause pain in this area, which will be discussed in detail below.
What is the right lower quadrant?
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) The right lower quadrant contains: Appendix. Right ovary. Part of the large bowel. Acute Appendicitis can cause pain in the right lower quadrant. The pain may affect the entire abdomen, before moving to (localizing) the right lower quadrant as appendicitis develops.
How many quadrants are there in the abdomen?
The abdomen can be divided into four quadrants. Dividing up the abdomen in this way can help when assessing a patient with abdominal pain. The location of the abdominal pain can give first responders a clue to the underlying problem. Each abdominal quadrant contains different organs and has different medical conditions associated with it.
What quadrant is ovarian pain?
Ovarian pain may also cause pain in the right lower quadrant if the right ovary is affected.
Why does my right upper quadrant hurt?
Part of the large bowel (colon) A common cause of right upper quadrant pain is gallbladder problems. For example, gallstones or gallbladder infections can cause pain in the right upper quadrant.
What is the left lower quadrant?
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) Always remember that the “left and right” anatomical perspective is that of the patient’s, not yours. It is not the perspective of the healthcare professional. This should not be mixed up as it may lead to a misdiagnosed disease. Or worse, potential complications on the patient.
How many quadrants are there in the abdomen?
What Are The Four Abdominal Quadrants? First, visualize an imaginary line, make a cross using the belly button as the “landmark.”. This divides the abdomen into four quadrants. The transverse plane, others call it a transumbilical plane, divides the lower and upper quadrants.
What are The Nine Abdominal Regions?
Aside from the four abdominal quadrants, there are more detailed sections. These are the nine abdominal regions.
Why is it important to know the Four Abdominal Quadrants and Nine Abdominal Regions?
Four techniques are used to assess the abdomen. These are; Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, and Percussion.
What happens if you don't know the location of the abdominal quadrants?
If you have no idea of the location of the abdominal quadrants, diagnosing appendicitis is impossible. What will happen to the patient if appendicitis is not diagnosed sooner? The appendix may rupture and lead to sepsis.
What quadrants do nurses need to know?
For aspiring nurses and other healthcare professionals, listen up. Communication and documentation with the medical team require the knowledge of the abdominal quadrants. So this is a MUST-learn topic.
Why is it important to familiarize yourself with the quadrants?
It is important to familiarize yourself with the quadrants in order to help in the differential diagnosis. One good example is diagnosing acute appendicitis. If a patient has suspected appendicitis, the first thing that comes to mind is to solicit McBurney’s sign.
What are Abdominal Quadrants?
The abdomen defines a region of the body located between the thorax (or chest) and the pelvis. It is separated from the thorax at the diaphragm and the pelvis at the beginning of the pelvic bones. This region is also referred to as the belly.
What is the right lower quadrant?
The Right Lower Quadrant is the third of the abdominal quadrants. The list of organs found in the RLQ includes:
How to divide the abdomen into four regions?
In this system, the abdomen is divided into four regions by drawing a vertical line (dividing on the median or midsagittal plane) and a horizontal line (dividing on the transverse or transumbilical plane) that perpendicularly intersects at the umbilicus (or navel). The median (or midsagittal) plane can be visualized by drawing a vertical line from the center of the forehead to in between the two feet, this line should divide the body into two halves that are relatively equal and symmetrical. The transverse or transumbilical plane, on the other hand, divides the body into an upper half and lower half, by drawing an imaginary line that runs perpendicular to the spine, and intersects with the median plane at the navel.
How are the abdominal quadrants divided?
The four abdominal quadrants are divided along the median and transverse planes, by drawing a vertical and horizontal line that perpendicularly intersect at the navel.
What are the organs in the abdomen?
These include the digestive organs, kidneys, and spleen. By taking a closer look at each of the four abdominal quadrants, one can learn about the different organs found in each one.
How many regions does the abdomen have?
There are two major systems by which the abdomen can be divided into smaller areas. One system involves dividing the abdomen into four regions along a vertical and horizontal axis centered at the umbilicus (navel). These four regions are known as abdominal quadrants.
What is the abdomen?
The abdomen is the region of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. It contains various important organs, such as the digestive organs, kidneys, and spleen. Because the abdomen contains so many vital organs, it is divided into abdominal quadrants for ease of study, clinical examination, and communication. An alternate system divides the abdomen into nine regions. The four quadrants are divided along the median and transverse planes by drawing a vertical and horizontal line that perpendicularly intersects at the navel. The four quadrants are:
Where is the pain in the upper left abdomen?
The pain and tenderness you may be experiencing can likely be described by the following details: Location: It will likely be beneath the lower edge of the rib cage, on the left side. Sensitive: The pain will be evident on palpation (pressing) of the left upper abdomen.
How many quadrants are there in the abdomen?
Are you experiencing pain in your upper left abdomen? The abdomen can be separated into four quadrants, making it easier to pinpoint the source of your pain. However, it's quite likely that it will resolve on its own.
What is the name of the test for upper abdominal pain?
If the symptoms began suddenly, laboratory tests on blood, breath, and stool may be ordered. Upper endoscopy or abdominal x-ray may be done.
What is the pain in the left side of the abdomen called?
Left adrenal gland. Upper left sections of the large intestine. Pain in the upper left abdomen is also called pain in the left upper quadrant, pain under the left ribcage, or pain in the left hypochondrium.
How to treat a stomach ache?
Treatment involves pain management through both medication and surgical procedures. Lifestyle improvements through diet, exercise, and stress management can also be very helpful. Top Symptoms: fatigue, abdominal pain (stomach ache), nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain that comes and goes.
What is the pain of eating on an empty stomach?
Stomach ulcer. A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum), which causes pain following meals or on an empty stomach. Rarity: Uncommon. Top Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, moderate abdominal pain, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)
Why does my left side hurt?
Cancer. Cancer is considered a rare cause of pain in the upper left abdomen. Localized tumor: A cancerous growth anywhere in the left upper quadrant can cause pain. There may or may not be a lump in the vicinity of the pain.
Where is the appendix located?
Appendicitis occurs when your appendix is inflamed. Although the appendix isn’t located in the upper left abdomen, in rare cases, it can cause pain in the area. The symptoms may include: abdominal pain that’s usually in the lower right quadrant. abdomen being tender to the touch.
What is the pain on the left side of the chest?
Costochondritis occurs when the cartilage that connects your rib cage to your breastbone becomes inflamed. It can have symptoms that are similar to a heart attack. The symptoms of costochondritis include the following: pain on the left side of your chest. pain that’s sharp, feels like pressure, or feels achy.
What is the most common cause of abdominal pain in children?
Constipation occurs when you have fewer than three bowel movements per week or have stools that are hard and difficult to pass. Constipation is the most common. Trusted Source. cause of abdominal pain in children.
What is the name of the condition that causes abdominal pain and cramping?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition involving a group of intestinal symptoms that typically occur together. The symptoms vary in severity and duration from person to person. Symptoms include: abdominal pain or cramping, usually with diarrhea or constipation.
Why does my left side hurt under my ribs?
Pain in your upper left abdomen under your ribs can have a variety of causes. This is because there are several important organs in this area, including the: spleen. kidney. pancreas. stomach. colon. lung. Although the heart isn’t in the upper left abdomen, it can refer pain to the area.
What is the swelling of the pericardium called?
Pericarditis is caused by the swelling of the membrane around your heart. This membrane, which also becomes irritated, is called the pericardium.
What to do if your left upper abdominal is hurting?
If upper left abdominal pain is regular or severe, see a doctor to determine the cause. The doctor will present treatment options depending on the underlying condition.
What causes sharp pain in the upper left side of the chest?
Pericarditis causes sharp chest pain, which may also affect the upper left abdominal area. Other symptoms can include:
Why does my abdomen hurt so much?
Frequent pain in the abdomen can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a collection of symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Symptoms can include:
Why does my left side hurt under my ribs?
Pain or tenderness in the left side of the upper abdomen under the ribs can result from a broken rib or any of a variety of conditions that affect the nearby organs. People may also experience pain in their chest or back.
How do you know if you have abdominal pain?
See the doctor right away if any of the following symptoms accompany the abdomen pain: weakness. black, tar-like stools. blood in the stools, urine, or vomit. A person who experiences chest pain and shortness of breath, dizziness, or a fever should seek immediate medical care.
What organs are under the ribs?
On the left side of the body, these organs include the: heart. left lung. spleen. left kidney. pancreas. stomach. Below, we discuss 10 possible causes of upper left abdominal pain under the ribs and explain when a person with this symptom should see a doctor. 1.
What is the inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone?
Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone. A person may feel pain in the chest that worsens during a deep breath or while taking part in physical activity.
