Medically reviewed by Amir Zegar, DO
01 Aug 2021
Abdominal pain will usually cause a dull, sharp or cramp like pain, which often presents itself in the area between the chest and pelvic area. There are many reasons for this type of pain, with the most common being gas, indigestion, muscle pain or a condition like diverticulitis.
In the medical industry, abdominal pain is associated to four areas of the stomach called Quadrants of the abdomen. This method was created by Anatomists and specialists that studied the abdomen and found pain originating from four abdomen regions, which helps a Physician diagnose and identify which organ may be causing the symptoms.
Quadrants of the Abdomen and Their Indications
Right Upper Quadrant
This part of the abdomen is on the right side of the patient’s abdomen from the umbilical plane to the right rib cage. The organs found in the right upper quadrant are the gallbladder, liver, duodenum, upper part of the pancreas, right kidney, adrenal gland, and the colon’s hepatic fixture.
Pain in the right upper quadrant may be indicative of the following conditions:
- Hepatitis
- Peptic ulcer
- Cholecystitis
- Kidney problems
- Liver conditions
- Pre-eclampsia
- Gallbladder problems
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Pancreatic conditions
Right Lower Quadrant
It extends from the median plane to the right side of the abdomen, from the umbilical plane to the right inguinal ligament. Vital organs found in the right lower quadrant are the caecum, appendix, right Ureter, right ovary, fallopian tube, and ascending colon.
This part of the abdomen is assessed when diagnosing:
- Appendicitis
- Gas
- Indigestion
- Hernia
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Left Lower Quadrant
This is the area on the left of the midline below the umbilicus. Vital organs found in this region are the left ureter, the descending colon, sigmoid colon, the left ovary, and the fallopian tube.
Pain in this quadrant may be caused by:
- Colitis
- Diverticulitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ureteral colic
- Difficile colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Gas
- Indigestion
- Hernia
- Kidney stones
- Shingles
- Menstrual cramps
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cyst
- Ovarian torsion
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Testicular torsion
Left Upper Quadrant
The left upper quadrant is on the left side of the abdomen from the umbilical plane to the left ribcage. The organs covered in this region are the spleen, stomach, the body of the pancreas, left kidney, adrenal gland, splenic flexure of the colon, parts of the transverse, and descending colon.
Conditions that may cause pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen requiring a visit to the emergency room in 77079 are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Costochondritis
- Pancreatitis
- Broken or bruised ribs
- Pericarditis
- Kidney stones and infection
- Enlarged spleen
- Gastritis
Go to an Emergency Room If you Have These Symptoms
Emergency room visits for abdominal pain may save your life when some of the symptoms below accompany your abdominal pain:
- Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- Bloody stool
- Dark or black stool
- Lightheadedness that leads to fainting
- Severe tenderness in the area that pains
- Swelling of the affected area
- Yellow-looking skin
- Persistent nausea and vomiting blood
- Irregular heartbeat
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Breathing difficulties
- Pain while urinating or passing stool
- Inability to have bowel movement accompanied by vomiting
Abdominal pain accompanied by pre-existing medical conditions will require immediate attention at an ER. Some of these conditions are:
- Pregnancy
- Abdominal pain or chest tightness in individuals above 45 years old
- After gastric by-pass surgery, colostomy or bowel resection
- Recent abdominal surgery or endoscopy
Abdominal Pain Diagnosis & Imaging
When you visit the emergency room for abdominal pain, the doctors will carry out some diagnoses to determine the cause of the pain. The most common ones are:
- Abdominal X-ray
- Abdominal CT scan
- Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography
- Abdominal Ultrasound