BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPoint tenderness - abdomenAbdominal tendernessAbdominal point tenderness is the pain you feel when pressure is placed over a certain part of the belly area (abdomen). Considerations The abdomen is an area of the body a health care provider can easily examine by touch. The provider can feel growths and organs in the belly area and find where you feel pain.Abdominal tenderness can be mild to severe. Rebound tenderness means that there is more pain when pressure on the tender area is released. It occurs when the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) is irritated, inflamed, or infected. This is called peritonitis.PeritonitisPeritonitis is an inflammation (irritation) of the peritoneum. This is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Causes include:Abdominal abscess Abdominal abscessThe peritoneum is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen. Peritonitis is present when...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Appendicitis AppendicitisAppendicitis is a condition in which your appendix gets inflamed. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the end of the large intestine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain types of hernias HerniasA hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Meckel diverticulum Meckel diverticulumA Meckel diverticulum is a pouch on the wall of the lower part of the small intestine that is present at birth (congenital). The diverticulum may co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ovarian torsion (twisted fallopian tube) When to Contact a Medical Professional Get emergency medical help right away if you have abdominal point tenderness. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will examine you and gently push on places on your belly. People with peritonitis will often tense the abdominal muscles when the area is touched. This is called guarding.The provider will note any point of tenderness. The location of the tenderness can indicate the problem that is causing it. For example, if you have appendicitis, you will have tenderness when a certain place in the lower right abdomen is touched. This spot is called McBurney point.The provider will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. These may include:When did the symptoms start? Is this the first time you have had such discomfort? If not, when does the discomfort tend to occur? Are you having other symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, fainting, vomiting, or fever? ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may need to have the following tests: Abdominal x-ray Abdominal x-rayAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal CT scan (occasionally) Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Blood work, such as a complete blood countComplete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In some cases, you may need surgery right away. This may involve an exploratory laparotomy or an emergency appendectomy.Exploratory laparotomy Abdominal exploration is surgery to look at the organs and structures in your belly area (abdomen). This includes your:AppendixBladderGallbladderIn...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AppendectomyAn appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Abdomen. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 18.Landmann A, Bonds M, Postier R. Acute abdomen. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 46.McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.AllVideoImagesTogAnatomical landmarks adult - front - illustration There are three body views (front, back, and side) that can help you to identify a specific body area. The labels show areas of the body which are identified either by anatomical or by common names. For example, the back of the knee is called the “popliteal fossa,” while the “flank” is an area on the side of the body.Anatomical landmarks adult - frontillustrationAppendix - illustration The appendix is near the junction of the small bowel and the colon. On occasion, it may become infected. Although most people are familiar with appendicitis, it is a relatively rare disease. It is treated by surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy). Recovery time for uncomplicated appendicitis is usually just three days.AppendixillustrationAnatomical landmarks adult - front - illustration There are three body views (front, back, and side) that can help you to identify a specific body area. The labels show areas of the body which are identified either by anatomical or by common names. For example, the back of the knee is called the “popliteal fossa,” while the “flank” is an area on the side of the body.Anatomical landmarks adult - frontillustrationAppendix - illustration The appendix is near the junction of the small bowel and the colon. On occasion, it may become infected. Although most people are familiar with appendicitis, it is a relatively rare disease. It is treated by surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy). Recovery time for uncomplicated appendicitis is usually just three days.AppendixillustrationRelated Information Peritonitis(Condition)Appendicitis(Condition) Review Date: 10/20/2022 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Point tenderness - abdomenAbdominal tendernessAbdominal point tenderness is the pain you feel when pressure is placed over a certain part of the belly area (abdomen). Considerations The abdomen is an area of the body a health care provider can easily examine by touch. The provider can feel growths and organs in the belly area and find where you feel pain.Abdominal tenderness can be mild to severe. Rebound tenderness means that there is more pain when pressure on the tender area is released. It occurs when the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) is irritated, inflamed, or infected. This is called peritonitis.PeritonitisPeritonitis is an inflammation (irritation) of the peritoneum. This is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Causes include:Abdominal abscess Abdominal abscessThe peritoneum is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen. Peritonitis is present when...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Appendicitis AppendicitisAppendicitis is a condition in which your appendix gets inflamed. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the end of the large intestine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain types of hernias HerniasA hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Meckel diverticulum Meckel diverticulumA Meckel diverticulum is a pouch on the wall of the lower part of the small intestine that is present at birth (congenital). The diverticulum may co...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ovarian torsion (twisted fallopian tube) When to Contact a Medical Professional Get emergency medical help right away if you have abdominal point tenderness. What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will examine you and gently push on places on your belly. People with peritonitis will often tense the abdominal muscles when the area is touched. This is called guarding.The provider will note any point of tenderness. The location of the tenderness can indicate the problem that is causing it. For example, if you have appendicitis, you will have tenderness when a certain place in the lower right abdomen is touched. This spot is called McBurney point.The provider will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. These may include:When did the symptoms start? Is this the first time you have had such discomfort? If not, when does the discomfort tend to occur? Are you having other symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, fainting, vomiting, or fever? ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may need to have the following tests: Abdominal x-ray Abdominal x-rayAn abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines. Wh...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal CT scan (occasionally) Abdominal CT scanAn abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abdominal ultrasound Blood work, such as a complete blood countComplete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In some cases, you may need surgery right away. This may involve an exploratory laparotomy or an emergency appendectomy.Exploratory laparotomy Abdominal exploration is surgery to look at the organs and structures in your belly area (abdomen). This includes your:AppendixBladderGallbladderIn...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AppendectomyAn appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesBall JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Abdomen. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 18.Landmann A, Bonds M, Postier R. Acute abdomen. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 46.McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.