01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Below the diaphragm and above the pelvis.
02 / Structure & organization
The abdominal wall surrounds a cavity containing digestive organs and associated vessels. Some organs are covered by peritoneum and suspended by mesenteries; others lie behind the peritoneal lining. The diaphragm separates the abdomen from the thorax.
03 / Function
It contains your stomach, intestines and several other organs.
04 / Mechanism
Abdominal muscles form a flexible wall around many organs. They help steady your trunk when you move, while the digestive organs inside process food. Organs can shift a little as the diaphragm moves with breathing.
Part of a bigger picture
The abdomen belongs in our torso & skin collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore torso & skin →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Quadrants and nine-region maps provide different ways to describe location. Organ position changes with breathing, posture and filling, so surface boundaries are approximate.
Check your understanding
Locate the abdomen in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.