The precise location of pain is one of the main reasons for proper diagnosis of patient’s conditions. The abdominal cavity has several organs; one on top the other in the lower abdomen, on the right or left side, so knowing their location can help to pre-determine what hurts.

Also, the nature of the pain may indicate the cause. Knowing characteristics of various diseases, physician concludes what could be the reason for dull, circular, acute pain, which started suddenly (such as gastric ulcer rapture of abdominal aorta,) or pain which increase gradually and slowly. The pain may have other specific characteristics, for example, it may radiate into the right shoulder suggesting bile stones, pain reaching the flank as spikes in the kidney or circular as chronic pancreatitis.

Brief description of the digestive system

Digestive system consists of several organs responsible for the break down and elimination of chemical components of foods: Stomach, Pancreas, Liver, Gallbladder, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine.

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IBS (IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME), is a functional disorder characterized by abdominal pain and alteration in bowel habits. "Up to 20% of the adult population has symptoms compatible with the diagnosis, but most never seek medical attention. It is a common problem presenting to both the gastroenterologist and the primary physician." (Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 37th Edition, chapter 14, p602).

Some of the reasons causing digestive disorders are:

Many people are familiar with a feeling of fullness and harsh bursting of the abdominal cavity (clothes too tight - flatulent belly). Flatulence and abdominal pain are the most frequent complaints from the abdominal cavity.

Often abdominal bloating is accompanied by additional symptoms of cramps and painful bowel. Those conditions are often cumbersome, very harsh and difficult to deal with.

Digestion

Digestion of food begins in the mouth (action of digestive enzymes contained in saliva). The food here is shredded and mixed with saliva.
In other sections of the gastrointestinal tract transported food is subjected to complex reactions - first in the stomach, then in the duodenum, then in the intestines.