Left upper quadrant

The Left upper quadrant of the human abdomen, often abbreviated as LUQ, is used to refer to a portion of the abdomen that allows doctors to localise pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest. The LUQ extends from the median plane to the left of the patient, and from the umbilical plane to the left ribcage.

The term is not used in comparative anatomy, since most other animals do not stand erect. The equivalent term for animals is 'right anterior quadrant'.

Important organs

Stomach
Spleen
Left lobe of liver
Body of pancreas
Left kidney and adrenal gland
Splenic flexure of colon
Parts of transverse and descending colon

Clinical significance

The LUQ may be painful and/or tender in such conditions as appendicitis, in case of intestinal malrotation

External links

Abdominal Quadrants

Chose a Quadrant	Right Upper Quadrant Left Upper Quadrant Right Lower Quadrant Left Lower Quadrant

Superficial axial anatomy and general regions (TA A01.2.01–06, GA 12.1287)

Head	Nasolabial fold

Neck	Triangles: Anterior of the neck (Muscular, Carotid, Submandibular, Submental) · Posterior of the neck (Occipital, Subclavian) · Suboccipital Supraclavicular fossa

Thorax	Triangle of auscultation · axillary folds (Anterior, Posterior) · Clavipectoral triangle · Inframammary fold Infraclavicular fossa

Abdomen/pelvis	regions (Epigastrium, Hypochondrium, Umbilical region, Latus, Hypogastrium, Inguinal region) quadrants (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ) Lap · Lumbar triangle McBurney's point · Desjardins' point · Traube's space

Perineal	Anal triangle · Urogenital triangle

General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs