What is Abdominal Pain?

The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs and diaphragm above.


The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs and diaphragm above, the pelvic bone (pubic ramus) below, and the flanks on each side. Although abdominal pain can arise from the tissues of the abdominal wall that surround the abdominal cavity (such as the skin and abdominal wall muscles), the term abdominal pain generally is used to describe pain originating from organs within the abdominal cavity. The abdominal area includes organs such as the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas. Abdominal pain can range in intensity from a mild stomach ache to severe acute pain. The pain is often nonspecific and can be caused by a variety of conditions.

What Causes Abdominal Pain?

Many organs may be involved in the potential underlying cause of abdominal pain.


Abdominal pain is caused by inflammation (for example, appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis), by stretching or distention of an organ (for example, obstruction of the intestine, blockage of a bile duct by gallstones, swelling of the liver with hepatitis), or by loss of the supply of blood to an organ (for example, ischemic colitis). To complicate matters, however, abdominal pain also can occur for unclear reasons without inflammation, distention, or loss of blood supply. An important example of this latter type of pain is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These latter types of pain are often referred to as functional pain because no recognizable (visible) causes for the pain have been found. A primary health care provider or gastroenterologist can help determine the underlying cause of pain in the abdominal area.

How Is the Cause of Abdominal Pain Diagnosed?

A doctor can perform a physical exam and run necessary tests to diagnose the cause of abdominal pain.

Doctors determine the cause of abdominal pain by relying on:
  1. Characteristics of the pain
  2. Physical examination
  3. Exams and tests
  4. Surgery and endoscopy

Diagnosis - Characteristics of the Pain

Taking a complete personal history can help uncover possible causes of abdominal pain.


Information obtained by taking a patient's history is important in helping doctors determine the cause of pain. This includes the way the pain begins, its location, pattern, and duration. It also includes what makes the pain worse as well as what relieves it. Associated signs and symptoms, such as fever, diarrhea, or bleeding also are considered.




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