DISEASE

Esophagus

Commonly called as food pipe, it is located in the neck, chest and abdomen. It is responsible for transporting food from throat to the stomach

  • Initially considered as a mere conduit, recent understanding of the physiology of esophagus has resulted in better understanding of the numerous diseases affecting the esophagus.
  • Symptoms of esophageal diseases include difficulty in swallowing food (dysphagia), pain while swallowing food (odynophagia), regurgitation, blood in vomiting (hematemesis), heart burn and respiratory problems.
  • Common diseases affecting esophagus include reflux esophagitis, esophageal candidiasis, esophageal motility disorders (achalasia cardia, nutcracker esophagus and diffuse esophageal spasm), diverticulum and esophageal varices.

Stomach

Organ located in the upper abdomen responsible for temporary storage and digestion of food. It has the capacity to expand and store large quantities of food. It also performs important immunological functions.

  • Receptive relaxation and accommodative reflex (the ability to expand significantly to receive and store food) is unique to stomach.
  • Symptoms of gastric diseases include upper abdominal pain, early satiety, dysphagia, blood in vomiting (hematemesis), heart burn, abdominal distention, blood in stools, loss of weight and appetite
  • Common diseases affecting stomach include acid peptic disease, gastric ulcer, gastric varices and gastric neoplasms.

Small Intestine

Tubular organ located within the abdomen responsible numerous digestive and absorptive processes of food. It is called “small” intestine because of its smaller diameter when compared to the large intestine. The length of small intestine is many fold longer than large intestine. It comprises of duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

  • Predominant site for digestion and absorption of carbohydrate, fat and protein occur in the small intestine.
  • Symptoms include into abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distention, vomiting, blood in stools, malnourishment, loss of weight and appetite.
  • Common diseases include infection, ulcers, stricture, polyps and inflammation (inflammatory bowel disease). They can also be content of hernia.

Large intestine (colon)

Part of the intestine that is responsible for absorption of fluid and electrolytes. It comprises of caecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon.

  • Predominant site of absorption of electrolytes and large quantities of water.
  • Symptoms include into abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distention, vomiting, blood in stools, malnourishment, tenesmus, urgency, constipation, loss of weight and appetite.
  • Common diseases include infection, ulcers, stricture, polyps and inflammation (inflammatory bowel disease). They can also be content of hernia.

Rectum and anal colon

Final pathway for digestive processes. They primarily act as conduits for passage of stools.

  • Symptoms include into diarrhea, abdominal distention, vomiting, blood in stools, tenesmus, urgency, constipation, loss of weight and appetite.
  • Common diseases affecting rectum include infection, ulcers, stricture, polyps and inflammation (inflammatory bowel disease). Common anal diseases include fissure, fistula in ano and hemorrohoids
  • Malignancy affecting rectum usually is adenocarcinoma. Anal canal malignancy can also be squamous cell carcinoma

Pancreas

It is a leaf like organ located in the upper abdomen.

  • It has two major functions. Secretion of enzymes (digestive – exocrine) and hormones (endocrine – predominately regulating blood sugar levels)
  • Common diseases include pancreatitis (acute or chronic), pancreatic cysts
  • Neoplasms affecting pancreas include adenocarcinoma, cystic neoplasms, acinar cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor
  • Investigations include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasound.

Liver

It is largest solid organ in the body located in the right side of upper abdomen. It is the place where numerous metabolic activities take place.

  • Symptoms of liver disease include jaundice, abdominal distention, leg swelling, blood in stools or vomiting, altered sensorium, itching, generalized fatiguability and loss of weight.
  • Common diseases include hepatitis (viral, drug induced, autoimmune etc.), cirrhosis, cystic lesions and hemangioma.
  • Malignancy affecting the liver can be hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma or secondaries from other sites.

PHYSIOLOGY

Where Does It Hurt In Your Abdomen

RIGHT HYPOCHONDRIAC

Liver, Gallbladder, Right Kidney, Small Intestine

EPIGASTRIC REGION

Stomach, Liver, Pancreas, Duodenum, Spleen, Adrenal Glands

LEFT HYPOCHONDRIAC

Spleen, Colon, Left Kidney, Pancreas

Lower Abdominal Pain

Urinary tract infection, Enterocolitis, Uterus and ovary-related problems,
Appendicitis, Stone in kidney or ureter

01

Upper Abdominal Pain

Gastritis/Ulcer/Gallstone, Uncommon causes, Hepatitis/Pancreatitis,
Crux

02

Left Hypochondriac

Spleen, Colon, Left Kidney,
Pancreas

03

Right Lumbar

Gallbladder, Liver,
Right Colon

04

ANATOMY

  • Commonly called a food pipe, it is located in the neck, chest and abdomen. It is responsible for transporting food from the throat to the stomach.

  • An organ located in the upper abdomen is responsible for the temporary storage and digestion of food. It has the capacity to expand and store large quantities of food. It also performs important immunological functions.

  • It is the largest solid organ in the body located on the right side of the upper abdomen. It is the place where numerous metabolic activities take place.

  • The pancreas is an abdominal organ affected by inflammatory conditions and cancer. Conditions affecting the pancreas can cause abdominal pain, jaundice, diabetes mellitus and malabsorption.

  • The tubular organ located within the abdomen is responsible for numerous digestive and absorptive processes of food. It is called the “small” intestine because of its smaller diameter when compared to the large intestine. The length of the small intestine is much fold longer than the large intestine. It comprises of duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

  • Part of the intestine that is responsible for absorption of fluid and electrolytes. It comprises the caecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon.

  • Final pathway for digestive processes. They primarily act as conduits for the passage of stools.

Capsule endoscopy

It is a type of endoscopy performed to diagnose small intestine diseases. It is like a tablet which is swallowed by the patient. The camera records the intestinal mucosa as it passes through the intestine. After the study the images are reviewed to identify the intestinal lesions and direct appropriate management. It is commonly used for occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Its major disadvantage is the inability to take biospy from suspicious lesions.

Enteroscopy

It is new modality of evaluating the small intestinal pathologies. It is similar to the traditional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy but with modifications in the tip and length thereby enabling it to study the small intestine. There are various types eg. Push, double balloon, sonde etc. In contrast to capsule endoscopy it has the advantage of performing biopsy.

Laparoscopy

Surgical technique to perform abdominal surgeries through small incisions. Complex surgeries such as cancer surgeries can also be effectively treated using laparoscopy.

Pancreas

Pancreas is an abdominal organ affected by inflammatory conditions and cancer. Conditions affecting pancreas can cause abdominal pain, jaundice, diabetes mellitus and malabsorption.

Irritable bowel syndrome

IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by long standing abdominal pain which may or may not be associated with bowel disturbances such as diarrhea and constipation.

Hernia

Hernia is the abnormal protusion of tissue organs through an opening in the abdominal wall. Groin is the most common site of hernia. Complications of hernia include intestinal obstruction and bowel gangrene