Which organ is located in the Right Upper Quadrant along with the liver and duodenum?

• A. Spleen
• B. Left kidney
• C. Esophagus
• D. Head of pancreas

Answer: (D)

Abdominal quadrants categorize where organs sit in relation to the midline and belly button. In the right upper quadrant you commonly find the liver, gallbladder, part of the duodenum, and portions of the pancreas and kidney.

The head of the pancreas sits in the curve of the duodenum, tucked under the liver’s right lobe, which places it in the right upper quadrant along with the liver and the duodenum. The pancreas as a whole extends across the midline, with the head in the RUQ and the tail reaching toward the left upper quadrant near the spleen.

That’s why the head of the pancreas is the correct match for being located in the RUQ together with the liver and duodenum. The spleen and left kidney are mainly in the left side, and the esophagus runs through the chest and upper abdomen rather than staying in one quadrant.