left upper quadrant

(noun)

The left upper quadrant is the location of the left portion of the liver, the larger portion of the stomach, the pancreas, left kidney, spleen, portions of the transverse and descending colon, and parts of the small intestine.

Related Terms

Examples of left upper quadrant in the following topics:

  • Abdominopelvic Regions

    • The abdominopelvic region can be divided into four quadrants.
    • The right upper quadrant contains the right portion of the liver, the gallbladder, right kidney, a small portion of the stomach, the duodenum, the head of the pancreas, portions of the ascending and transverse colon, and parts of small intestine.
    • The left upper quadrant is the location of the left portion of the liver, part of the stomach, the pancreas, left kidney, spleen, portions of the transverse and descending colon, and parts of the small intestine.
    • The left lower quadrant houses the majority of the small intestine, some of the large intestine, the left half of the female reproductive system, and the left ureter.
    • The left lumbar region consists of the descending colon, the left kidney, and part of the spleen.

  • Spleen

    • The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.

  • Anatomy of the Liver and Gallbladder

    • It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, resting just below the diaphragm.
    • Traditionally, the liver is divided into four lobes: left, right, caudate, and quadrate.

  • Pylorospasm and Pyloric Stenosis

    • This hypertrophy is felt classically as an olive-shaped mass in the middle upper part or right upper quadrant of the infant's abdomen.

  • Arch of the Aorta

    • The arch of the aorta, or the transverse aortic arch, is continuous with the upper border of the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
    • The arch of the aorta runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea, and it finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra.
    • Three vessels come out of the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
    • These vessels supply blood to the head, neck, thorax and upper limbs.
    • In approximately 20% of individuals the left common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery rather than the aortic arch, and in approximately 7% of individuals the left subclavian artery also arises here.

  • Lobes, Fissures, and Lobules

    • There are three lobes in the right lung and two in the left lung.
    • The upper lobe is the largest lobe of the right lung.
    • The human left lung is smaller and narrower that the right lung, and is divided into two lobes, an upper and a lower, by the oblique fissure.
    • The upper lobe of the left lung contains anterior and apicoposterior bronchopulmonary segments.
    • The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two.

  • Clavicle

    • The clavicle or collar bone is a long, curved bone on the upper portion of the shoulder that connects with the scapula and the sternum.
    • It functions to attach the upper arm to the trunk providing sufficient support to allow free movement around the shoulder.
    • The left clavicle, viewed from above.

  • Periodontal Disease

    • Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth .
    • If left undisturbed, microbic plaque calcifies to form calculus, which is commonly called tartar.
    • This section from a panoramic x-ray film depicts the teeth of the lower left quadrant, exhibiting generalized severe bone loss of 30–80%.

  • Brachial Plexus

    • The brachial plexus is responsible for cutaneous and muscular innervation of the entire upper limb, with two exceptions: the trapezius muscle is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI) and an area of skin near the axilla is innervated by the intercostobrachial nerve.
    • These roots merge to form three trunks: The "superior" or "upper" (C5-C6), the "middle" (C7), and the "inferior" or "lower" (C8, T1)
    • Each trunk then splits in two, to form six divisions: The anterior divisions of the upper, middle, and lower trunks and the posterior divisions of the upper, middle, and lower trunks
    • The cords are named by their position with respect to the axillary artery: The posterior cord is formed from the three posterior divisions of the trunks (C5-C8,T1), the lateral cord is the anterior divisions from the upper and middle trunks (C5-C7), and the medial cord is simply a continuation of the anterior division of the lower trunk (C8,T1)
    • The five on the left are considered "terminal branches."

  • Veins of the Thorax

    • The superior vena cava returns deoxgenated blood from the upper half of the body and is formed from the left and right brachiocephalic veins of the upper carrying blood from the upper limbs and also blood from the head and neck via the thyroid and jugular veins.