A human has one abdomen.
While the abdomen is a single, continuous area of the body, it is often divided for clinical and descriptive purposes. According to the provided reference, clinically, the abdomen is roughly divided into nine regions by two sagittal and two transverse planes, with the umbilicus in the center of these regions. This division into nine regions helps medical professionals describe the location of pain or abnormalities within the abdomen. These regions do not, however, mean that humans have multiple abdomens.
Understanding Abdominal Regions
Here’s how the abdominal area is often divided:
- Sagittal Planes: Two vertical planes extend from the midclavicular lines down to the mid-inguinal lines.
- Transverse Planes: Two horizontal planes, one at the subcostal line (just below the ribs) and one at the iliac tubercles (the bony prominences of the hips), create the nine regions.
- Umbilicus: The umbilicus, or belly button, serves as the central point of this nine-region grid.
Nine Abdominal Regions:
| Region | Location |
|---|---|
| Right hypochondriac | Upper right region of the abdomen |
| Epigastric | Upper central region of the abdomen, above the stomach |
| Left hypochondriac | Upper left region of the abdomen |
| Right lumbar | Middle right region of the abdomen |
| Umbilical | Central region of the abdomen, around the navel |
| Left lumbar | Middle left region of the abdomen |
| Right iliac | Lower right region of the abdomen |
| Hypogastric | Lower central region of the abdomen, below the umbilicus |
| Left iliac | Lower left region of the abdomen |
These regions help in locating the internal organs. However, these are regions, not separate abdomens. A human being has only one abdominal area.
