Since the abdominal area contains many different organs it is
divided in smaller areas. One division method, uses one median
sagittal plane and one transverse plane that passes through the
umbilicus at right angles. This method divides the abdomen into
four quadrants. Medical personnel can easily refer to these
quadrants when describing pain or injury regarding a victim.
Review Date: 10/07/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason
Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)