KUB Studies image which organs?

• A. Liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
• B. Heart, lungs, and great vessels.
• C. Kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
• D. Brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Answer: (C)

KUB stands for kidneys, ureters, and bladder, and this type of plain abdominal radiograph is used to visualize the urinary system on a single film. The main structures you look for are the kidneys on either side of the spine and the bladder in the pelvis; you may also gauge bowel gas patterns on the same image. The other organ groups—liver, gallbladder, and pancreas—are higher up in the abdomen and are not the primary focus or reliably seen on a standard KUB. The heart, lungs, and great vessels lie in the chest and aren’t the target of a KUB, and the brain, spinal cord, and nerves are inside the skull or spinal canal, not visible on an abdominal X-ray. So the image is best understood as visualizing the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.