Right upper quadrant

(noun)

The right upper quadrant contains the right portion of the liver, gallbladder, right kidney, a small portion of the stomach, portions of the ascending and transverse colon, and parts of the small intestine.

Related Terms

Examples of Right 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.
    • In the right lower quadrant sits the cecum, appendix, part of the small intestines, the right half of the female reproductive system, and the right ureter.
    • The right iliac region contains the appendix, cecum, and the right iliac fossa.

  • Anatomy of the Liver and Gallbladder

    • It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, resting just below the diaphragm.
    • The liver lies to the right of the stomach and overlies the gallbladder .
    • 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.

  • Appendicitis

    • Later, as the appendix becomes more inflamed and irritates the adjoining abdominal wall, it tends to localize over several hours into the right lower quadrant, except in children under three years.
    • In case of a retrocecal appendix (appendix localized behind the cecum), however, even deep pressure in the right lower quadrant may fail to elicit tenderness (silent appendix), the reason being that the cecum, distended with gas, protects the inflamed appendix from the pressure.
    • The occurrence of a fecalith in the appendix seems to be attributed to a right-sided fecal retention reservoir in the colon and a prolonged transit time.
    • This is in accordance with the occurrence of a right-sided fecal reservoir and the fact that dietary fiber reduces transit time.

  • Veins of the Thorax

    • Two venae cavae return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium of the heart.
    • 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.
    • It is joined just before entering the heart by the azygos vein which runs up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column, transporting blood from the external thoracic cavity.
    • The inferior vena cava returns blood from the abdomen and lower limbs to the right atrium of the heart.

  • Spleen

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

  • Arch of the Aorta

    • The arch of the aorta follows the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
    • 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.
    • These vessels supply blood to the head, neck, thorax and upper limbs.

  • Lobes, Fissures, and Lobules

    • The right lung is divided into three lobes.
    • The upper lobe is the largest lobe of the right lung.
    • The lower lobe is the bottom 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.

  • 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 right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front

  • The Appendicular Skeleton

    • Pectoral girdles [4 bones: Left and right clavicle (2) and scapula (2)]
    • Upper arms and forearms (6 bones) - Left and right humerus (upper arm, 2), ulna (2) and radius (2) (forearm)
    • The bones of the pectoral girdle consist of two bones (scapula and clavicle) and anchor the upper limb to the thoracic cage of the axial skeleton.
    • The three regions of the upper limb arm (humerus), forearm (ulna medially and radius laterally), and the hand.
    • The right and left hip bones attach to each other anteriorly.