Left upper quadrant

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A Graphic showing Contents of 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 'left 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

v t e 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

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

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