Which abdominal quadrant is most commonly associated with appendicitis?

Which abdominal quadrant is most commonly associated with appendicitis?

• A. LLQ
• B. LUQ
• C. RUQ
• D. RLQ

Answer: (D)

Pain from appendicitis is most confidently localized to the right lower quadrant because the appendix sits there. Early visceral pain is felt around the umbilicus, but as inflammation irritates the parietal peritoneum, the pain becomes sharp and focal in the RLQ, typically at McBurney’s point. The RLQ tenderness, along with possible guarding and rebound, is the classic finding. Other quadrants contain different organs (upper right with liver/gallbladder, upper left with stomach/spleen, left lower with parts of the colon), so they’re less likely to be the primary site of the inflammatory pain in appendicitis.

Pain from appendicitis is most confidently localized to the right lower quadrant because the appendix sits there. Early visceral pain is felt around the umbilicus, but as inflammation irritates the parietal peritoneum, the pain becomes sharp and focal in the RLQ, typically at McBurney’s point. The RLQ tenderness, along with possible guarding and rebound, is the classic finding. Other quadrants contain different organs (upper right with liver/gallbladder, upper left with stomach/spleen, left lower with parts of the colon), so they’re less likely to be the primary site of the inflammatory pain in appendicitis.