In addition to the spleen being located in the left upper quadrant, part of the stomach and pancreas usually extend into this region too. The descending aorta travels posteriorly through the epigastric region as well. The liver and biliary system can also extend into the epigastric region. The epigastric region contains the stomach (as well as the lower part of the esophagus and first part of the duodenum/small intestine) and part of the pancreas. Portions of the right kidney, small intestine, and ascending/transverse colon can also extend into the RUQ. The right upper quadrant primarily contains the liver, gallbladder, and biliary system. Also note that portions of structures can extend into other regions as well. **We will focus on the main organs and not every single micro-structure. The below image can be used as a reference. Now that we have divided the abdomen into different regions, let’s discuss the anatomy of each section. If you would like information about the upper abdomen only check out the following EZmed post! “ Upper Abdominal Pain: Anatomy and Causes” This EZmed post will use simple diagrams and charts to walk you through the different abdominal quadrants, the anatomy within each region, and the abdominal pathology that can occur at each location! Once the location has been determined, this information can be combined with other features including the characteristics of the pain, the onset of the pain, male or female, and associated symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, bloating, pain after eating, pain with pregnancy, etc. Identifying where the abdominal pain is located can help narrow down and/or prioritize the differential diagnosis.Ībdominal pain can be right sided, left sided, upper, or lower, and each location can provide clues to the etiology.
With such a wide range of abdominal pathology, it can be challenging to understand the meaning or cause of the pain. Abdominal pain, or stomach pain, is a common chief complaint, and unfortunately there are many different causes.Įtiologies may include gallstones (cholelithiasis), kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), pancreatitis, appendicitis, peptic ulcer disease (stomach ulcers), gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux), pain with pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, colitis, etc.
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