# Hypochondrium

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Upper left and right sections of the abdomen

Not to be confused with [Hypochondriasis](/source/Hypochondriasis).

Hypochondrium Thorax and abdomen. Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for liver, stomach, and great intestine. Details Identifiers Latin regio hypochondriaca TA98 A01.2.04.002 TA2 256 FMA 20390 Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

In [anatomy](/source/Anatomy), the [division of the abdomen into regions](/source/Quadrants_and_regions_of_abdomen) can employ a [nine-region scheme](/source/Quadrants_and_regions_of_abdomen#Regions). The **hypochondrium** refers to the two hypochondriac regions in the upper third of the [abdomen](/source/Abdomen); the left hypochondrium and right hypochondrium.[1] They are located on the lateral sides of the abdominal wall respectively, [inferior to](/source/Anatomical_terms_of_location#Superior_and_inferior) (below) the thoracic cage, being separated by the [epigastrium](/source/Epigastrium).[1][2]

The [liver](/source/Liver) is in the **right hypochondrium**, extending through the epigastrium and reaching the left hypochondrium. The [spleen](/source/Spleen) and some of the [stomach](/source/Stomach) are in the **left hypochondrium**.[3]

## Definitions, etymology, and modern controversies

The word derives from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) word υποχόνδριο ("hypochondrio"). This Greek word means literally "below the cartilage" which refers to the [costal cartilages](/source/Costal_cartilage). In other words, the word refers to the area of the ventral trunk that is located below the costal cartilages.[4] The word once referred only to the soft portion of the abdomen between the rib cage and the navel (the region [once believed to be](/source/Hypochondriasis#Etymology) the seat of [hypochondriasis](/source/Hypochondriasis)), but it is not used that way in modern anatomy's schemes for the [regions of the abdomen](/source/Abdomen#Regions).[5]

Some sources have disputed usage of the term for the parts of the [anterior abdominal wall](/source/Anterior_abdominal_wall) below the [costal margins](/source/Costal_margin). The region named the right hypochondrium exists anatomically, but is almost totally under the chest wall. In clinical situations, the parts of the abdominal wall just below the right and left costal margins are referred to as the right and left hypochondriac regions respectively.[6]

## Significance of region

Clinically speaking, symptoms and signs arising from this region are of great importance and have a specific list of diseases in their differential diagnoses.[7][8]

## Additional images

		- Front view of the thoracic and abdominal viscera

## See also

- [Transpyloric plane](/source/Transpyloric_plane)

- [Midclavicular line](/source/Midclavicular_line)

- [Hypochondriasis § Etymology](/source/Hypochondriasis#Etymology)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) Standring S (2016). *Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice* (Forty-first ed.). [Philadelphia]. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780702052309](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780702052309). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [920806541](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/920806541).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [thefreedictionary.com](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hypochondrium)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AM (2013-02-13). *Clinically oriented anatomy* (Seventh ed.). Philadelphia. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1451119459](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1451119459). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [813301028](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/813301028).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Definition of HYPOCHONDRIAC"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypochondriac). *www.merriam-webster.com*. Retrieved 2019-09-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bound F (January 2006). ["Hypochondria"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2806%2967948-8). *Lancet*. **367** (9505): 105. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0140-6736(06)67948-8](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2806%2967948-8). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16413863](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16413863). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [208816963](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:208816963).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Cirocchi R, Boselli C, Renzi C, Corsi A, Cagini L, Boccolini A, et al. (June 2014). ["The surface landmarks of the abdominal wall: a plea for standardization"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4107261). *Archives of Medical Science*. **10** (3): 566–9. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5114/aoms.2014.43749](https://doi.org/10.5114%2Faoms.2014.43749). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4107261](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4107261). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25097589](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25097589).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Nordt SP, Bowns C, Moran J, Kelleher HB, Swadron S (December 2012). ["Left upper quadrant abdominal pain"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3555578). *The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine*. **13** (6): 495–6. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5811/westjem.2012.1.11737](https://doi.org/10.5811%2Fwestjem.2012.1.11737). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3555578](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3555578). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [23359837](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23359837).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Joshi G, Crawford KA, Hanna TN, Herr KD, Dahiya N, Menias CO (2018-05-01). "US of Right Upper Quadrant Pain in the Emergency Department: Diagnosing beyond Gallbladder and Biliary Disease". *Radiographics*. **38** (3): 766–793. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1148/rg.2018170149](https://doi.org/10.1148%2Frg.2018170149). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29757718](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29757718).

## External links

- [Abdominal Viscera Basics - Page 1 of 10](https://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/coursepages/m1/anatomy2010/html/modules/abdominal_viscera_module/abdominal_01.html) anatomy module at [med.umich.edu](/source/University_of_Michigan)

v t e Human surface anatomy and general regions Head Marionette lines Nasolabial fold Philtrum Commissure of lips Vermilion border Glabella Brow ridge Nostril Nose Neck Triangles: Anterior Muscular Carotid Submandibular Submental Posterior Occipital Subclavian Suboccipital Supraclavicular fossa Thorax Triangle of auscultation Clavipectoral triangle Inframammary fold Infraclavicular fossa Arm Cubital fossa Anatomical snuffbox Abdomen/pelvis regions Epigastrium Hypochondrium Umbilical region Flank Hypogastrium Inguinal region Quadrants Lumbar triangle McBurney's point Desjardins' point Traube's space Perineal Anal triangle Urogenital triangle Leg Buttocks Gluteal sulcus Intergluteal cleft Femoral triangle Popliteal fossa Lap

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hypochondrium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondrium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondrium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.