What is Abdominal Pain? 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? 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...