Question

Raul has been taken by ambulance to the hospital. The EMT tells the admitting nurse that Raul is, "complaining of pain in his left axilla which radiates medially down his arm." Which of the following best locates this pain?

a. In the area of his left hip, extending up to his arm.
b. In the area of his left knee, extending up and out his left arm.
c. Raul is experiencing pain from his left foot all the way through his left arm.
d. In his left armpit and the inner portion of his arm, extending perhaps into his hand.

Answer 1

The pain Raul feels in his left armpit, radiating medially down his arm, most likely corresponds to the axillary region and medial aspect of the upper limb, which could be a case of referred pain often associated with cardiac issues like myocardial infarction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pain that Raul is experiencing is best described by option (d): In his left armpit (left axilla) and the inner portion of his arm, potentially extending into his hand. This location suggests Raul feels pain that starts in his left armpit area, also known as the axillary region, and radiates towards the medial aspect, which is the area closer to the middle of the body, down the arm. Such pain can be an example of referred pain, a phenomenon where pain is perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus. It can occur when strong visceral sensations, like those from the heart, are felt in different places like the left shoulder and arm—which could be indicative of conditions such as an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).