(kwad'rănt )

[L. quadrans, a fourth]

1. One quarter or a fourth of a circle.
2. One of four corresponding regions, as of the abdomen, divided for descriptive and diagnostic purposes.

abdominal q.Any of the four parts or divisions of the abdomen determined by drawing imaginary vertical and horizontal lines through the umbilicus. The quadrants and their contents are the right upper quadrant, comprising the right lobe of liver, gallbladder, part of transverse colon, part of pylorus, hepatic flexure, right kidney, and duodenum; the right lower quadrant, comprising the cecum, ascending colon, small intestine, appendix, bladder (if distended), right ureter, right spermatic duct or right ovary and right tube, and uterus (if enlarged); the left upper quadrant, comprising the left lobe of liver, stomach, small intestine, transverse colon, splenic flexure, pancreas, left kidney, and spleen; and the left lower quadrant, comprising the small intestine, left ureter, sigmoid flexure, descending colon, bladder (if distended), left spermatic duct or left ovary and left tube, and uterus (if enlarged).

SEE: illus.

dental q.One quarter of the mouth. Each arch is divided in half so that one can easily describe the location of teeth or soft tissue observations. Quadrants are labeled as maxillary right and left or mand ibular right and left and are shown in diagram form for dental records.