Question

Visceral abdominal pain is:

Select one:
a. highly suggestive of a ruptured hollow abdominal organ.
b. characterised by a localised area of abdominal tenderness or pain.
c. often less localised on palpation and is poorly described by the patient.
d. commonly encountered in patients with cholecystitis or pancreatitis.

Answer 1

Visceral abdominal pain is typically less localised and poorly described by the patient, due to the nature of the pain (option b) that originates from the internal organs. Healthcare providers use abdominal regions and quadrants to help diagnose the source of the pain, and certain referred pain patterns can help pinpoint the affected organ.

Step-by-step explanation:

Visceral abdominal pain is often less localised on palpation and is poorly described by the patient. This type of pain arises from internal organs, or viscera, and can manifest in various patterns dependent on the specific organ affected. Health care providers divide the abdominal cavity into nine regions or four quadrants to aid in diagnosing the source of abdominal pain, as certain referred pain patterns are associated with specific organs.



For instance, cysts in the liver can cause pain in the right upper quadrant. Similarly, a ruptured spleen may lead to referred pain in the shoulder or neck, known as Kehr's sign, because of irritation to the diaphragm located just above the spleen. Appendicitis, another common cause of abdominal pain, can start with generalised pain but often localises to the right lower quadrant as the condition worsens.