Abdominal pain is a very common symptom in people's daily lives, and abdominal pain in different locations and of different natures may indicate different diseases.
We can divide the abdomen into nine areas, similar to the nine-square grid, which is medically called the nine-point method.
First, draw a horizontal line along the lower edge of the bilateral rib arches and the navel.
Then, draw a vertical line on each side of the left and right sides of the anterior iliac spines (raised bones felt when forked waist), as shown in the following figure
Right upper quadrant, mainly liver, gallbladder and part of the colon;
Right abdomen, mainly colon, ureter;
The right lower abdomen is mainly the cecum, the appendix, the female ovaries and fallopian tubes, and the male spermatic cord.
Left upper quadrant, mainly spleen, stomach, colon, pancreas;
Left abdomen, mainly the colon, jejunum, ileum, ureter;
The left lower abdomen, mainly sigmoid colon, the female ovaries and fallopian tubes, and the male spermatic cord.
Epigastricia, mainly stomach and liver;
Mid-abdomen, mainly the small intestine, mesentery;
The lower abdomen, mainly the bladder, the uterus of women. Therefore, according to the location of the pain, it can be roughly judged what is wrong with the organs.
01 It is also necessary to pay attention to the characteristics, degree and variation of abdominal pain
In addition to different locations of abdominal pain, abdominal pain has different characteristics, degrees and variations.
Pain can manifest as swelling, dullness, colic, burning, needle-like or knife-like pain;
Pain may be long, short, and may have periodic rhythms; there may be a clear precipitating factor or a relieving factor; and abdominal pain may also be a change in location.
The above information can be combined to further determine the cause of abdominal pain. To give a few examples:
Abdominal distention, dull pain, dull pain, may be due to gastrointestinal inflammation, if the pain in the upper abdomen may be gastritis, pain in the middle and lower abdomen may be enteritis.
Epigastric pain or burning pain, pain has chronic, cyclical, rhythmic characteristics, that is, long-term timing of fixed pain, often suggests gastroduodenal ulcer.
Since the ulcer surface is irritated by stomach acid, the pain of gastric ulcers is more pronounced on an empty stomach and relieved after eating;
Duodenal ulcers, on the other hand, worsen pain after eating and are more relieved on an empty stomach.
If the pain suddenly worsens, or even persistent knife-like pain, or even diffuse pain throughout the abdomen, it may indicate the evolution from ulcer to perforation.
Abdominal pain manifests as paroxysmal colic, intense pain that tosses and turns, and often suggests obstruction of the cavity organs.
For example, colic in the right upper quadrant may be cholelithiasis; left and right abdominal colic may be ureteral stones.
Pain in the right upper quadrant after eating greasy food often suggests cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.
Because the gallbladder is an organ that stores bile and helps digestion, pain may be accompanied by bloating, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
Pain in the left middle quadrant after eating or drinking alcohol is often suggestive of pancreatitis.
In the early stages, it may be dull, stuffy, or distended, in severe cases, nerve tingling may occur, and in severe cases, it may affect other organs to develop corresponding symptoms.
Abdominal pain metastases, such as early in the peri-umbilical cord and upper abdomen, and then metastasizes to the right lower quadrant several hours later, often suggesting acute appendicitis.
Abdominal pain is unclear in scope and position, and may suggest peritonitis, mechanical intestinal obstruction, etc.
Abdominal pain in the elderly is unclear in scope, starting with dull pain, and then turning to needle-like and knife-like pain, often considered due to mesenteric arteriosclerosis.
The above is only a few cases, different diseases may also have some different accompanying symptoms, which require specific disease analysis.
02 Abdominal pain may not be a disease of the abdominal organs
Knowing the characteristics of the above abdominal pain, we also need to pay special attention to one point. That is, even if it manifests as abdominal pain, it cannot be directly attributed to the disease of the abdominal organs, and some other systemic diseases may also show symptoms of abdominal pain.
One of the most representative is angina, because the distance from the stomach can affect the sensory area of the abdomen, which is often mistaken for stomach pain. There are also some lung diseases, and abdominal pain may also occur, so be sure to pay attention to the identification.
References: Medical Microvision official website - Guo Shubin, Chief Physician, "Emergency Treatment of Acute Abdominal Pain"