Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Right upper quadrant
Introduction
Overview
Overview
RUQ refers to the right-upper quadrant of the human abdomen. The term allows a doctor to localise pain and tenderness, scars, lumps and other items of interest. The RUQ extends from the median plane to the right of the patient, and from the umbilical plane to the right ribcage.
The RUQ may be painful and/or tender in such conditions as hepatitis, cholecystitis, and peptic ulcer.
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’.
External links
External links
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]