Final answer:
US RUQ stands for Ultrasound Right Upper Quadrant, which is a medical imaging modality used to assess organs in the right upper part of the abdomen. Ultrasounds are deemed the safest form of medical imaging during pregnancy, useful for observing fetal development.
Step-by-step explanation:
US RUQ in medical imaging refers to Ultrasound Right Upper Quadrant. This type of ultrasound imaging is utilized to visualize organs and structures located in the right upper section of the abdomen, which is one of the four quadrants healthcare providers use to divide the abdominal area for better communication about the location of symptoms or findings. For instance, the right upper quadrant would include the liver, right kidney, gallbladder, pancreas, and parts of the small and large intestine.
Regarding the safety of medical imaging during pregnancy, ultrasounds are considered the safest method and are commonly used for monitoring the development of the fetus, as indicated by the ultrasound image of a 12-week-old fetus provided in the reference material.