There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including:
Organs related to digestion -- the stomach, the end of the esophagus, the small and large intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas.
The aorta -- a large blood vessel that runs straight down the inside of the abdomen.
The appendix -- an organ in the lower right abdomen that no longer serves much function.
The kidneys -- two bean shaped organs that lie deep within the abdominal cavity.
However, the pain may originate from somewhere else -- like your chest or pelvic region. You may also have a generalized infection affecting many parts of your body, like the flu or strep throat.
The intensity of the pain does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain. Severe abdominal pain can be from mild conditions, such as gas or the cramping of viral gastroenteritis. On the other hand, relatively mild pain or no pain may be present with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer of the colon or early appendicitis.
Common Causes
Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain. The key is to know when you must seek medical care right away. In many cases you can simply wait, use home care remedies, and call your doctor at a later time only if the symptoms persist.
Dysmenorrhea in the adolescent (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation (periods or menses. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/10/2006
Intra-abdominal abscess (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An intra-abdominal abscess is an infected pocket of fluid and pus located inside the belly area (abdominal cavity. There may be more than one abscess. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Date: 07/14/2006
Ectopic pregnancy (6 images)
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(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus (womb. The baby cannot survive. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/15/2006
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An aneurysm is when a blood vessel becomes abnormally large or balloons outward. The abdominal aorta is a large blood vessel that supplies blood to¿your abdomen, the pelvis, and legs. Reviewer: Janet L. Albright, MD, General & Vascular Associates, Reno, NV. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/07/2006
Mittelschmerz (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Mittelschmerz is one-sided lower-abdominal pain that occurs in women at or around the time of ovulation. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/22/2007
Prostatitis - nonbacterial (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Nonbacterial prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland with no known cause. Reviewer: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Date: 06/13/2006
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