abdomin-, abdomino-, abdomen-

Any of four topographic areas of the abdomen divided by two imaginary lines, one vertical and one horizontal, intersecting at the umbilicus, or belly button. as determined from the front of the body.

The divisions are the left upper quadrant (LUQ), the left lower quadrant (LLQ), the right upper quadrant (RUQ), and the right lower quadrant (RLQ).

• Left upper quadrant (LUQ): left lobe of liver, stomach, transverse colon, splenic flexure, pancreas, left kidney, and spleen.
• Left lower quadrant (LLQ): small intesine, left ureter, sigmoid flexure, descending colon, bladder if distended, left spermatic duct in the male; left ovary and left tube, and uterus if enlarged, in the female.
• Richt upper quadrant (RUQ): right lobe of the liver, gallbladder, part of transverse colon, part of pylorus, hepatic flexure, right kidney, and duodenum.
• Right lower quadrant (RLQ): cecum, ascending colon, small intestine, appendix, bladder if distended, right ureter, right spermatic duct in the male; right ovary and right tube, and uterus if enlarged, in the female.

An involuntary contraction of the muscles of the abdominal wall: Abdominal reflexes occur when the overlying skin is stimulated by stroking or scratching or by tapping neighboring bony structures.

A lack of these reflexes indicates damage to the pyramidal tract or the projection neurones in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus of the brain or two groups of nerve fibers that participate in the complex and delicate coordination of motor activity arising in the brain and passing down through the spinal cord to motor cells.

The emergency cesarean delivery of a baby endanged during child labor or unsuccessful vaginal birth: Indications for the need of an abdominal rescue include fetal distress (fetal hypoxia or low oxygen levels in the fetus) associated with dystocia (difficult or painful childbirth labor or delivery), arrested descent (interruption in the labor process), abruptio placentae (placenta prematurely separating from the wall of the uterus), or umbilical cord prolapse (slipping or falling out of place).

A flat absorbent material from 1/2 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 cm) thick, 3 to 6 in. (7.62 to 15.24 cm) in diameter, used as packing to prevent closing or obstruction by intrusion of viscera and for preventing tissue injury: During the operation, abdominal sponges were used to soak up excess fluids.

An ultrasonic exam which provides accurate visualization of the abdominal aorta, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, biliary ducts, kidneys, ureters, and bladder: An abdominal ultrasound test is used to diagnose and locate cysts, tumors, calculi, and malformations, to document the progression of various diseases, and to guide the insertion of instruments during surgical procedures.

The soft internal organs contained or enclosed within the abdominal cavity: The abdominal viscera include the stomach, liver, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and parts of the urinary and reproductive tracts.

1. The outer margins of the abdomen, extending from the osteocartilaginous thoracic cage to the pelvis: Although its major part is muscular, the abdominal wall consists of at least seven layers: the skiln, subcutaneous fat, deep fascia, abdominal muscles, transversalis fascia, extraperitoneal fat, and the parietal peritoneum.

2. The lining of the abdomen, consisting partly of bone but mostly of muscle: Several sets of muscles support and propel the torso or body, for example the abdominal wall muscles which help transfer force between the upper and lower body, and they also protect the delicate internal organs, and their most important function is to support the back.

The muscles of the torso extend in several directions and they help to maintain the posture and aid the spinal muscles when bending, twisting, and when doing other movements.

Pain in the abdomen or a belly ache: When Nancy went to her doctor because of suffering from irritations in her stomach area, Dr. Smith told her the archaic term for her discomfort which was abdominalgia, or simply abdominal pain in the current medical language.

Describing how the belly or midriff performs: At the gym, Nancy was admiring the young man who was so abdominally strong!

1. A piece of apparatus in the gym to flex the abdominal muscles: To use the abdominizer the user must lie on his or her back and rock backwards and forwards, exercising the abdominal muscles.

Also more generally, the abdominizer is one of various different types of equipment designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
2. An individual who performs exercises for the stomach muscles and also dresses in sportwear to show off the midriff: Jack was an abdominizer who loved to show the girls in the gym how terrific he looked!

Relating to the position of the fetus in utero: The abdominoanterior location of the baby is when its belly is facing the anterior abdominal wall of the mother.

A change in heart rate, usually a slowing one, resulting from mechanical stimulation of abdominal viscera, which are the soft internal organs in the abdominal cavity: The abdominocardiac reflex is normally a distention and can also cause an occurrence of extrasystoles.

A procedure whereby a trocar is introduced into the abdominal cavity for aspirating fluid which is the removal by suction of a fluid from a body cavity by using a special needle: Abdominocentesis is used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

An ectopic pregnancy or the development of a fertilized ovum outside the uterus: An abdominocyesis, also termed an abdominal pregnancy, can occur in a Fallopian tube and develop in the peritoneal cavity, usually secondary to an early rupture of a tubal pregnancy.

An abdominocyesis can also be the condition in which the embryo or fetus continues to grow in the abdominal cavity after its expulsion from the tube or other site of its primary development.

A reference to the abdomen and the gall bladder: Because of some discomfort in his abdomen, Jerry went to see his doctor who diagnosed him as having problems in the abdominocystic area of his body, and especially referred to his urinary bladder.