Organs in the left hypochondriac region

Organs found in this quadrant include: the liver, the gallbladder, duodenum, the upper portion of the pancreas, and the hepatic flexure of the colon.

Pain in the right upper quadrant may be indicative of hepatitis, cholecystitis, or the formation of a peptic ulcer.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Belly pain (may worsen when taking deep breaths)
• Possible aches in back or right shoulder blade

Note: Bacteria also can cause Cholecystitis.

Hepatitis
Regardless of cause, inflammation of the liver is referred to as hepatitis. Most instances of hepatitis are viral, but the disease may also be caused by drugs or alcohol. The most common types of viral hepatitis include:

• Hepatitis A - This virus causes an acute inflammation and will usually heal on its own. It's easily spread in food and water, and often infects many people at once.
• Hepatitis B - This virus can be both acute (short-term illness) and chronic (ongoing illness), and is spread through blood or other body fluids in various ways.
• Hepatitis C - The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is almost always chronic and spreads usually by blood. Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination, but not hepatitis C. However, certain strains of Hepatitis C may be cured by a regimen of direct-acting antiviral medication.

Peptic Ulcer
A hole in the lining of the digestive tract is called a peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are created by erosive digestive action of pepsin and stomach acid, which may be linked to any of the following root causes:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of stomach infection and inflammation causing bacteria
• Excessive use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), and other anti-inflammatory drugs
• Smoking and drinking
• Radiation therapy
• Stomach cancer

Right Lower Quadrant

Organs found in the right lower quadrant include the appendix, the upper portion of the colon, and the right ovary and the Fallopian tube in women.

The right lower quadrant may be assessed when diagnosing appendicitis, in which case, this quadrant would be tender and painful.

Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, causing pain. If left untreated, appendicitis may cause your appendix to rupture and cause infection, which can be serious and even fatal.

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.

This quadrant may feel tender in cases of appendicitis and abnormalities of the intestines, such as malrotation.

Left Lower Quadrant

Organs found in this quadrant include the sigmoid colon, and the left ovary and Fallopian tube in women.

Pain in this quadrant may be symptomatic of colitis, diverticulitis, or kidney stones. Ovarian cysts (in women) or pelvic inflammation may also be at the root of pain in this quadrant.

In anatomy, the division of the abdomen into regions can employ a . The hypochondrium refers to the two hypochondriac regions in the upper third of the abdomen; the left hypochondrium and right hypochondrium. They are located on the lateral sides of the abdominal wall respectively, (below) the thoracic cage, being separated by the epigastrium.

The liver is in the right hypochondrium, extending through the epigastrium and reaching the left hypochondrium. The spleen and some of the stomach are in the left hypochondrium.

Definitions, etymology, and modern controversies[edit]

The word derives from the Greek word υποχόνδριο ("hypochondrio"). This Greek word means literally "below the cartilage" which refers to the costal cartilages. In other words, the word refers to the area of the ventral trunk that is located below the costal cartilages. The word once referred only to the soft portion of the abdomen between the rib cage and the navel (the region the seat of hypochondriasis), but it is not used that way in modern anatomy's schemes for the .

Some sources have disputed usage of the term for the parts of the anterior abdominal wall below the costal margins. The region named the right hypochondrium exists anatomically, but is almost totally under the chest wall. In clinical situations, the parts of the abdominal wall just below the right and left costal margins are referred to as the right and left hypochondriac regions respectively.

Significance of region[edit]

Clinically speaking, symptoms and signs arising from this region are of great importance and have a specific list of diseases in their differential diagnoses.

What organs are in the right and left hypochondriac region?

What organs are in each of the 4 quadrants?

What two organs are found in the left upper quadrant?

Is the diaphragm in the left hypochondriac region?