Abdominal Pain Location and Characteristics

Abdominal Pain Characteristics

• Pain shifting from the epigastrium to the right shoulder is characteristic of biliary colic.
• Abrupt, excruciating pain, and the inability to stand still is characteristic of renal colic.
• Rapid onset of severe, constant pain is associated with acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis, and acute hepatitis.
• Dull, slow-onset pain that is not well localized is characteristic of visceral pain.

Referred Pain and Innervation

• The subdiaphragmatic region is associated with referred pain from subdiaphragmatic lesions.
• The hypogastric nerve innervates the hypogastric region, including the colon, rectum, and internal reproductive organs.

Abdominal Pain Types

• Visceral pain is characterized by a lack of receptors for heat, pain, or pressure if the bowels are cut.
• Gallbladder inflammation is typically associated with biliary pain, a common cause of acute abdomen.

Diagnosis of Acute Abdomen

• Viral gastroenteritis is NOT a common cause of acute abdomen.
• Laboratory and radiological studies commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of acute abdomen include imaging studies (e.g., CT, MRI, ultrasound) and blood tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver function tests, lipase).

Test your knowledge on the location and characteristics of abdominal pain, including visceral and parietal pain. Learn about the shifting pain associated with conditions such as acute cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, and perforated peptic ulcer, as well as the mode and onset of pain in different medical emergencies.