Which organs are located in the RUQ?

• A. Liver, Gallbladder, Colon (Portion)
• B. Spleen, Stomach
• C. Ascending Colon, Cecum, Appendix, Small Intestine (Portion)
• D. Descending Colon, Sigmoid Colon, Small Intestine (Portion)

Answer: (A)

The right upper quadrant houses organs that are located high on the right side of the abdomen: the liver is the dominant structure there, occupying most of that space. Underneath the liver sits the gallbladder, tucked against its inferior surface. A portion of the colon also sits in this area, specifically near the hepatic flexure where the ascending colon turns into the transverse colon.

That’s why listing the liver, gallbladder, and a portion of the colon aligns with the anatomy of the RUQ. The spleen and stomach are primarily in the left upper quadrant, the appendix and cecum are in the lower right quadrant, and the descending and sigmoid colon are in the left lower quadrant, so they don’t fit RUQ localization as well.