Abdominal Regions

The abdomen is divided into nine regions to help anatomists and clinicians describe the locations of organs, pain, or pathological findings. These regions are defined by two vertical and two horizontal planes, creating a grid that assists in anatomical localization.

Overview of the Nine Abdominal Regions

• Right Hypochondriac Region: Located in the upper right section beneath the ribs.

• Epigastric Region: Central upper region just below the sternum.

• Left Hypochondriac Region: Upper left section beneath the ribs.

• Right Lumbar Region: Middle right section, lateral to the umbilical region.

• Umbilical Region: Central region surrounding the navel.

• Left Lumbar Region: Middle left section, lateral to the umbilical region.

• Right Iliac (Inguinal) Region: Lower right section, near the hip bone.

• Hypogastric (Pubic) Region: Lower central region, below the umbilical region.

• Left Iliac (Inguinal) Region: Lower left section, near the hip bone.

Major Organs in Each Abdominal Region

Key Terms and Definitions

• Hypochondriac: Refers to the region beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs.

• Lumbar: Pertains to the lower back or the side regions of the abdomen.

• Iliac (Inguinal): Relates to the area near the iliac bones of the pelvis.

• Epigastric: The area above the stomach.

• Umbilical: The area surrounding the navel (umbilicus).

• Hypogastric: The area below the stomach.

Clinical Application

• These regions are used to localize pain, masses, or other clinical findings. For example, appendicitis often presents with pain in the right iliac region.

• Knowledge of these regions helps in physical examination and in describing the location of organs or pathologies in medical records.

Additional info:

• The nine-region system is more precise than the simpler four-quadrant system, which divides the abdomen into right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower quadrants.