Umbilical Region
The medical term for the abdominal area above the umbilical (belly button) area but lower than the epigastric region is the "periumbilical" or "umbilical" region.
Anatomical Definition
The abdomen is divided into nine regions for clinical examination and documentation purposes. The umbilical region is the central zone that surrounds the umbilicus (belly button) 1.
Vertical Organization of Abdominal Regions
The abdominal regions are organized in three horizontal tiers:
- Upper tier: Right hypochondriac, epigastric, and left hypochondriac regions
- Middle tier: Right lumbar (flank), umbilical, and left lumbar (flank) regions 1
- Lower tier: Right iliac, hypogastric (suprapubic), and left iliac regions
The epigastrium is defined as "the upper and middle region of the abdomen, located within the sternal angle" 1. This places it superior to the umbilical region.
Clinical Relevance
Surface Anatomy Landmarks
- The epigastric region corresponds to the area around the xiphoid process 1
- The umbilical region centers on the umbilicus, which appears at approximately the fourth week of fetal life and serves as a central reference point 2
- The umbilicus typically lies at the level where the abdominal aorta bifurcates 1
Diagnostic Significance
Periumbilical pain has specific diagnostic implications that differ from epigastric pain 3:
- Epigastric pain shows positive likelihood ratios (PLR 2.17-4.14) for esophageal, gastric, and duodenal pathology 3
- Periumbilical pain has low likelihood ratios (0.17-0.25) for urinary tract involvement, helping to exclude certain diagnoses 3
- The umbilical region contains important vascular structures, including the highest concentration of deep inferior epigastric artery perforators in the paraumbilical area 4, 5
Clinical Pitfall
When documenting abdominal examination findings or pain location, avoid using vague terms like "mid-abdomen." Instead, specify whether the finding is in the epigastric (upper central), umbilical/periumbilical (around the belly button), or hypogastric (lower central/suprapubic) region for precise clinical communication 1.