Small Bowel Ultrasound Anatomy

6 min read

Small bowel ultrasound anatomy is presented here as a labeled cross-sectional atlas. Every view pairs a color-coded anatomy diagram with the matching real ultrasound image, so you can learn the expected shape and position of the small bowel and then recognise it on a real scan.

In the atlas legend the small bowel belongs to the gi tract group and is shown in a consistent colour wherever it appears. The small body marker on each card shows where the transducer sits for that view, which makes it easier to reproduce the image at the bedside.

Small bowel appears in 24 labeled views in this atlas. Each card below shows the anatomy diagram, the real ultrasound image and the probe position for that scan. Coloured dots list every structure labeled in the view, with small bowel highlighted.

24Scan views

Small bowel across the atlas

Left iliac vessels

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Left iliac vessels

2Iliac artery16Iliac vein77Small bowel80Bladder95Psoas muscle97Pelvic bone

Medial and anterior hepatic segments, quadrate lobe, ligamentum teres, gallbladder

Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Medial and anterior hepatic segments, quadrate lobe, ligamentum teres, gallbladder

22Quadrate lobe24Ligamentum teres30Gallbladder60Right kidney77Small bowel94Artifact

Posterior segment, cranial subsegment

Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Posterior segment, cranial subsegment

10Vena cava17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver29Posterior segment77Small bowel96Diaphragm

Posterior segment, portal vein

Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Posterior segment, portal vein

10Vena cava14Right renal vein29Posterior segment60Right kidney77Small bowel

Posterior segment, caudal subsegment, kidney

Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Posterior segment, caudal subsegment, kidney

8Right renal artery10Vena cava29Posterior segment60Right kidney77Small bowel

Posterior segment, inferior border

Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Posterior segment, inferior border

8Right renal artery10Vena cava29Posterior segment60Right kidney77Small bowel

Spleen, small bowel

Spleen / Transverse Flank Scans of the Spleen · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Spleen, small bowel

50Spleen61Left kidney77Small bowel92Acoustic shadow

Kidney, liver, psoas muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle

Kidneys / Transverse Flank Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, liver, psoas muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle

10Vena cava20Right lobe of liver60Right kidney77Small bowel90Spinal column95Psoas muscle

Kidney, renal vein, colon

Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Right Kidney from Right to Left · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, renal vein, colon

10Vena cava14Right renal vein20Right lobe of liver30Gallbladder60Right kidney77Small bowel90Spinal column94Artifact95Psoas muscle96Diaphragm

Kidney, renal vein, vena cava, liver

Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, renal vein, vena cava, liver

1Aorta8Right renal artery10Vena cava14Right renal vein20Right lobe of liver30Gallbladder60Right kidney77Small bowel90Spinal column

Kidney, renal vein, renal artery, vena cava, liver

Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, renal vein, renal artery, vena cava, liver

1Aorta8Right renal artery10Vena cava14Right renal vein20Right lobe of liver60Right kidney77Small bowel90Spinal column

Kidney, spleen, psoas muscle

Kidneys / Longitudinal Flank Scans of the Left Kidney from Posterior to Anterior · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, spleen, psoas muscle

1Aorta9Left renal artery15Left renal vein50Spleen61Left kidney77Small bowel79Left colic flexure94Artifact

Kidney, renal vein, spleen, aorta

Kidneys / Longitudinal Flank Scans of the Left Kidney from Posterior to Anterior · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, renal vein, spleen, aorta

1Aorta15Left renal vein50Spleen61Left kidney77Small bowel92Acoustic shadow

Kidney, renal vein, vena cava

Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Kidney, renal vein, vena cava

1Aorta10Vena cava14Right renal vein20Right lobe of liver30Gallbladder60Right kidney77Small bowel90Spinal column

Renal vein, vena cava

Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Renal vein, vena cava

1Aorta10Vena cava14Right renal vein20Right lobe of liver77Small bowel90Spinal column

Adrenal gland, vena cava

Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Adrenal gland, vena cava

1Aorta10Vena cava20Right lobe of liver69Adrenal gland77Small bowel90Spinal column

Body of stomach, liver

Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Body of stomach, liver

5Splenic artery21Left lobe of liver42Body of pancreas45Pancreatic duct73Antrum of stomach77Small bowel

Antrum, liver, pancreas

Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Antrum, liver, pancreas

22Quadrate lobe42Body of pancreas73Antrum of stomach77Small bowel94Artifact

Bladder, rectum

Bladder / Bladder in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Bladder, rectum

77Small bowel80Bladder89Rectum

Bladder, bowel

Bladder / Bladder in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Bladder, bowel

77Small bowel80Bladder94Artifact

Vagina, uterus, bladder

Uterus / Uterus in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Vagina, uterus, bladder

77Small bowel80Bladder85Uterus86Vagina89Rectum94Artifact

Vagina, uterus, bladder

Uterus / Uterus in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

77Small bowel80Bladder85Uterus86Vagina89Rectum94Artifact

Uterus, bladder

Uterus / Uterus in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Uterus, bladder

77Small bowel80Bladder85Uterus86Vagina89Rectum94Artifact

Bladder, ovary

Uterus / Uterus in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Small bowel ultrasound image, Bladder, ovary

77Small bowel80Bladder88Left ovary89Rectum94Artifact

Anatomy diagrams, ultrasound images and probe positions are part of the Ultrasound Anatomy atlas. Colours follow the atlas legend, grouping vessels, organs and other structures by type.