If a person has pain and discomfort in the abdomen, he immediately begins to remember which organs are located in the discomfort zone. The cause of pain in the right side can be a variety of factors. It is enough to simply list what is on the right in the stomach. In the work of each of these organs, various disorders can occur that manifest themselves in the same way - painfully.
The basics of anatomy
From the school course of this discipline, we all know that a person is on the lower right of the abdomen. Our body can conditionally be divided into two anatomical areas - this is the abdomen and chest. The latter, in turn, occupies both the right and left side of the torso. In the chest cavity, which is delimited from the muscles and skeleton of the pleura, there are lungs. Outside, they are protected by intercostal muscles. Right in the sternum is the right lung. Diseases of this three-lobed organ, surrounded by neurovascular bundles, often cause discomfort in the right side of the chest.
Now let's move on to what's on the right side of the stomach. This part of the body can be conditionally divided into nine zones:
- right and left hypochondrium;
- right and left flanks of the abdomen;
- right and left iliac sectors;
- epigastric region;
- umbilical area;
- suprapubic area.
On the right side of the body are the internal organs of the digestive, excretory, endocrine systems:
- the right lobe of the liver and a segment of its left lobe;
- gall bladder with biliary tract;
- adrenal gland, upper portion of the right kidney.
If you look at what a person is on the lower right abdomen, or rather, from the right flank, then you can find only the ascending colon and the lower part of the right kidney. The iliac region is different in both sexes. In addition to the ileum and cecum with the appendix, something else is located on the lower right abdomen in women - the fallopian tube and ovary. The internal organs located in the middle part of the abdominal cavity are the same in both sexes. Individual differences, depending on age, weight, diseases, have internal organs that are located in the middle of the abdomen, on the right:
- sector of the transition of the stomach into the duodenum;
- the duodenum itself;
- pancreas;
- bladder;
- small intestine.
What does abdominal pain mean?
Pain in the side can have a different degree of intensity. When this symptom appears, you can not prescribe treatment yourself - this is the easiest way to let the situation go by its own and aggravate the problem. At the first alarming symptoms, you should consult a doctor. It is not necessary to make assumptions about what is located on the right below the abdomen and which organ hurts. If severe pain, colic or burning is felt for more than 6 hours in a row, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible or call an ambulance team.
The causes of pain can be different: from an eating disorder to inflammation of the appendix, circulatory disorders, bleeding and necrotic processes. If there is a malfunction in the intestinal tract, there may be a complete or partial blockage, which in severe cases leads to death. In any situation, there is no need to endure pain; you need to seek medical help.
If the pain is up
What is in the stomach in the person on the right? Under the ribs, discomfort can occur for the following reasons:
- consequences of injuries and bruises of internal organs;
- chronic diseases of the liver, abdominal organs;
- pathology of the nervous system;
- bone tumors;
- muscle sprain.
Judging by the reviews of patients, the most severe pain appears when the normal functioning of the gallbladder is disturbed. Suffering and torment is caused by gallstone disease and inflammation of the biliary tract, which often proceed with complications. Many problems carry acute or chronic cholecystitis.
Here, in the upper quadrant of the abdomen, the pancreas can also radiate. Pancreatitis can be confused with gastritis, a duodenal ulcer and cholecystitis, since all these pathologies are characterized by pain in the upper abdominal cavity, under the rib to the right. What is located in the lower abdomen in men and women, we will find out later, but for now we will deal with other symptoms of these pathologies.
How to understand that this is cholecystitis or gallstone disease?
With cholecystitis, the presence of constant bitterness in the mouth is added to the pain syndrome. The patient may experience high body temperature, nausea, sometimes even vomiting. Many mistakenly attribute this disease another symptom - yellowness of the skin. Chronic cholecystitis does not affect the condition of the skin, does not change the color of the epidermis. But if the ailment proceeds in an acute form, minor changes on the part of the skin are still possible.
If the disease is chronic, with recurrence, another inflammatory process starts. The disease is difficult to tolerate by patients, since the pain is felt not only at the top, but also gives to the lower abdomen.
What is on the right under the ribs is known to everyone - this is the liver and gall bladder. By the way, the symptoms of gallstone disease can be easily distinguished from the clinical manifestations of cholecystitis. But without a preliminary examination, no doctor will undertake a diagnosis. In the early stage of cholecystitis, the patient experiences periodic pain attacks, which become more frequent over time. The pain becomes painful and stable, intra-abdominal pressure increases, so a simple cough or sneezing causes sudden and unbearable pains. Without proper treatment, the disease progresses, the pain intensifies even with deep exhalation and inhalation.
Gallstone disease can occur without symptoms at all. However, the latent development of the disease is its main danger. Gallstones can be found for many years, which the patient may not be aware of. Most often, they are discovered by chance during a preventive ultrasound or other type of examination, for the passage of which the patient was sent for a different reason. What is on the right side of the stomach and causes pain, the doctor will draw a conclusion based on the results of the diagnosis. At an advanced stage, gallstone disease is accompanied by stitching and intolerable pain, often giving away in the limb, region of the scapula, heart, lower back.
Vater's nipple inflammation
What is on the right in the stomach, under the rib? Vater papilla is the junction of the biliary tract and duodenum. If it swells or becomes inflamed, a person experiences pain, repeated vomiting.
This pathology is not as common as cholecystitis or gallstone disease, but it is accompanied by the same intense suffering. During an attack that can be compared to torture, a person tries to find a comfortable position in order to at least slightly reduce the pain, and is ready for anything, if only the torment ceases. A tumor may be benign or malignant, but it is not the neoplasm itself that causes the pain, but an inflammation of the biliary tract called cholangitis.
Symptom occurs in the upper part, but can give to the right of the navel in the stomach. What is in this zone is clear to everyone - it is the small and large intestine, but in fact it is not he who is concerned. In addition to pain, patients have a fever, chills, skin and sclera become yellowish.
Biliary dyskinesia and colic
This is another reason for right-handed pain. The duration of attacks and sensations are individual in nature, which depends on the type of disease. If dyskinesia develops according to the hypertonic type, the pain is concentrated in the area of the liver. Most often, patients complain of cutting, exhausting pains. With dyskinesia of the hypokinetic form, there may not be any pain at all, but often the disease is manifested by aching cramping attacks against a background of general malaise, weakness.
Often, patients mistakenly take this symptom for hepatic or biliary colic, which are also localized on the right, but are more powerful and unbearable. It is not excluded that heart palpitations, heart failure, anxiety, panic fear. Similar signs also precede myocardial infarction, therefore, when they appear, you need to urgently call an ambulance. Regardless of which organ hurts from those located on the right in the abdomen in men and women, it is especially important to exclude a pre-infarction condition. The patient needs to describe his health as accurately as possible in order to prevent the likelihood of a medical error - it can cost the patient his life. An easy way to determine the cause of the pain is to do an ECG.
Pancreatitis
In the acute form of this disease, pain is felt not only in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, but also around the entire perimeter. Even the back and sides seem to hurt. Pancreatitis is caused by alcohol abuse and an unbalanced diet. In the absence of treatment and the desire to change a lifestyle, the disease can be fatal.
Injuries and injuries
We are talking about mechanical damage to internal organs in this part. For example, a fracture of the ribs or a bruise can also cause unpleasant feelings in the upper segment and to the right from the lower abdomen. What is in this area, we have already figured out. When falling from a height, a collision during an accident and other traumatic circumstances, the liver, kidneys, and bladder most often suffer. The pain intensifies with coughing, sneezing, sudden movements. Patients with bruises of the internal organs need emergency surgical treatment. Before the operation, the patient is sent for ultrasound, radiography or MRI.
Shingles
The causative agent of this disease is the herpes virus. Symptoms of herpes zoster are largely reminiscent of sensations with complicated pancreatitis. At the initial stage, the disease brings discomfort on the left side, but sometimes the pains are localized on the right, they are constant and have a strong piercing character. As with pancreatitis, with shingles there is nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dyspeptic disorders make diagnosis difficult. Only when a characteristic herpetiform rash appears on the abdomen does everything become clear with a diagnosis. None of the experts will confuse the bubble rashes located in a ribbon-like shape around the body. By the way, the name of the disease came from here - herpes zoster.
Bowel problems
Which organ is located on the right, lower abdomen? Regardless of gender, in this part the person has a small intestine and an ascending part of the colon, so pain in this part of the body can cause a malfunction in the intestinal tract. As a rule, cramps do not appear during meals. At the same time, patients describe their feelings as follows:
- the pain is strong enough, compressive, compressive;
- there is a urge to defecate, but it is not possible to empty the intestines;
- distended abdominal distension;
- nausea appears after each meal;
- periodic vomiting is possible.
Intestinal inflammation requires an integrated treatment approach. At the same time as taking medications (antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, antibacterial, etc.), it is important to follow a diet. In the absence of therapy, the patient's condition may worsen. A steady decrease in body weight, the appearance of blood or mucous impurities in excrement may indicate progression of the disease.
Appendicitis and Crohn's disease
What is located on the lower right abdomen in men? By the way, in women, this organ is located in the same place - this is the appendix. Its inflammation is accompanied by severe pain, localized below. Despite the fact that this symptom is characteristic of many other pathologies, everyone can assume appendicitis.
The disease proceeds in acute form approximately according to this scenario:
- First, the patient has pain in the upper midline of the abdomen in the umbilical region. Naturally, such pain does not cause much concern, because it is perceived as a harmless intestinal spasm.
- After some time, the pain passes into the iliac region in the right side of the abdomen. It is located just above the inguinal fold.
Inflammation of the appendix is often accompanied by nausea and diarrhea. The likelihood of an increase in body temperature to subfebrile values, a deterioration in appetite (up to complete loss), and vomiting are not excluded. At a medical examination, the disease is recognized by palpation. There are several methods to which specialists resort during the examination of the patient:
- Simultaneous pressing of the descending colon and the area located above, leads to increased pain in the groin on the right. When pressure is applied to the stomach, gases from the colon enter the appendix region, which causes irritation of the inflamed process.
- If, with an acute appendix, a thin plate or fingertips are drawn along the front of the abdomen from the right lower rib towards the iliac region, the patient feels a sharp pain. The experiment is carried out on the body of a man wearing a shirt.
- If the patient really has exacerbated appendicitis, then upon palpation of the ileum, he will feel cutting pain and reflexively raise his right leg. Check the patient in a prone position.
Crohn's disease can cause similar sensations in the lower abdomen . Pathology proceeding as terminal ileitis is distinguished by the location of the epicenter of pain: in this case, it is located in the iliac region on the right. Sensations in Crohn's disease are largely reminiscent of those experienced by patients with acute appendicitis. Without instrumental methods, it is almost impossible to diagnose and differentiate diseases that have similar symptoms. Therefore, a situation often arises when the patient is on the operating table due to an inflamed appendix, and subsequently, during the intervention, it turns out that he is okay with this.
Features of female physiology, pregnancy
What is right in the abdomen in women? Female anatomy has significant differences from the male. The cause of pain in the right side of the abdomen can be caused by gynecological problems.
Discomfort sometimes also occurs in early pregnancy, during the period of implantation of the embryo in the uterine cavity. An increase in the uterus against the background of the development and growth of the fetus can provoke discomfort.
The pain appears due to the fact that the tissues and ligaments surrounding the uterus are stretched under the influence of progesterone and estrogen. This is a completely natural reaction of the body of a woman carrying a child. You do not need to wait for complications. If the pain has become constant in the right lower abdomen, a woman urgently needs to contact her obstetrician-gynecologist, as pain can indicate a threat of termination of pregnancy or an inflammatory process provoked by an infection (for example, cystitis, vulvitis).
Typically, the baby is on the right side of the mother’s stomach. To be more precise about his location (presentation), then in the last trimester of pregnancy he occupies a stable position, in which he passes through the birth canal. Until the 32nd week, the baby in the womb does not occupy a static position. On the contrary, he turns over and spins all the time. In the last months of pregnancy, the baby seems to freeze and, until the very birth, moves only the limbs, unbends and turns his head to the sides. By the time of birth, the child is laid upside down, as if obeying the force of gravity. This type of presentation of the fetus is considered correct, since in this position the child is easier to go through the birth canal. The issue of proper presentation is especially acute on the eve of the approaching date of birth. If the baby does not lie down with his head, but with his pelvis, a cesarean section can be prescribed for the mother.
Diseases of the "female"
What is in the lower right abdomen in women? Pain in this part of the body is most often caused by gynecological pathologies. , . :
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- development of the fetal egg outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy).
These are serious and dangerous for a woman’s health diseases that cannot be ignored. In addition to constant pain on the right side of the lower abdomen, a characteristic feature of gynecological diseases is a change in the nature of female vaginal discharge. They can acquire a different color, texture, smell. In some cases, patients increase body temperature. With delayed or illiterate therapy, such diseases can lead to the discovery of bleeding, infertility, pelvic peritonitis.
What could be the treatment?
Knowing what is on the right in the abdomen, one can make an assumption about the cause of pain and discomfort in this area. Any unpleasant sensations are symptoms of pathological processes occurring in the body. Self-medication in this situation is unacceptable:
- Firstly, without a preliminary diagnosis, a person himself will not be able to determine what hurts him, which means that the therapy that he will prescribe for himself will be incorrect.
- Secondly, the time when you can cope with the disease at an early stage will be missed. In addition, the development of complications and a deterioration in well-being are possible. Only timely treatment will bring positive results and will benefit the patient.
Depending on the diagnosis, the doctors will select the appropriate therapy. If there is an inflammatory process, you can not do without antibiotics, analgesics and antispasmodics. With diagnosed herpes zoster, antiherpetic and antiviral agents are used. If a benign tumor (cyst) has been confirmed, a surgical treatment is an appropriate treatment option, and radiation and chemotherapy are used to detect a malignant neoplasm.
By the way, surgery is indicated for a number of diseases. Surgical care is often the only way to save the patient's life. In some cases, the bill goes on days, and sometimes on hours and minutes. In diseases such as an ectopic pregnancy, peritonitis, apoplexy, torsion of the legs of the cyst on the ovary, one cannot hesitate.