Pain beneath your ribs, around your belly button, or low in your abdomen can feel very different. The location is useful information, but several conditions can cause pain in the same area.
This abdominal pain location chart explains possible causes, the four abdominal quadrants, and symptoms that need medical attention. Use it to help describe your pain and understand when to get help.
Abdominal Pain Location Chart: Quick Reference
Right and left mean your own right and left. The examples below are possibilities, not diagnoses or a complete list. Warning signs matter wherever the pain is located.
| Pain location | Possible causes | Symptoms that need prompt attention |
|---|---|---|
| Upper right, beneath the ribs | Gallstones or gallbladder inflammation; liver conditions; intestinal gas; muscle strain. | Persistent pain, fever or chills, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. |
| Upper middle, below the breastbone | Indigestion, reflux, gastritis, peptic ulcers, or pancreatitis. Gallbladder problems can also cause pain here. | Severe or worsening pain, pain spreading to the back with vomiting, or chest and breathing symptoms. |
| Upper left, beneath the ribs | Stomach irritation or ulcers; pancreas or spleen conditions; intestinal gas. | Severe pain, pain following an injury, dizziness, or accompanying chest symptoms. |
| Around the belly button | Gas, intestinal infection, or early appendicitis. | Pain that worsens or moves toward the lower right abdomen. |
| Lower right | Appendicitis; bowel conditions; urinary or reproductive organ conditions. | New, worsening pain focused in this area, especially with nausea, vomiting, or fever. |
| Lower left | Diverticulitis, constipation, other bowel conditions, or pelvic conditions. | Persistent localized pain, fever, vomiting, or blood in the stool. |
| Lower middle, above the pubic bone | Bladder infection, constipation, menstrual cramps, or other pelvic conditions. | Painful urination, fever, unusual vaginal bleeding, possible pregnancy, or sudden severe pelvic pain. |
| Side or flank, sometimes extending toward the back or groin | Kidney stones, kidney infection, or muscle strain. | Blood in the urine, fever or chills, vomiting, severe pain, or difficulty urinating. |
| Across much of the abdomen | Gas, constipation, gastroenteritis, or other intestinal conditions. Bowel obstruction is another possibility. | Increasing pain, marked swelling, repeated vomiting, or inability to pass stool or gas. |
Cleveland Clinic’s abdominal pain overview explains how location helps clinicians narrow down possible causes. An examination and, when appropriate, tests help establish what is actually happening.
Understanding the Four Abdominal Quadrants
Healthcare professionals commonly divide the abdomen into four areas using an imaginary vertical line through the middle of the body and a horizontal line through the belly button.
The map below represents a front view. Your right side appears on the left of the map, as it would when someone faces you.
|
Right upper quadrant — RUQ Above your belly button, on your right |
Left upper quadrant — LUQ Above your belly button, on your left |
|
Right lower quadrant — RLQ Below your belly button, on your right |
Left lower quadrant — LLQ Below your belly button, on your left |
You may also hear terms such as epigastric for the upper middle abdomen, periumbilical for the area around the belly button, and suprapubic for the lower middle area above the pubic bone.
What Different Abdominal Pain Locations May Mean
Upper Right Abdominal Pain
The upper right abdomen contains the gallbladder and much of the liver, along with parts of the intestine. Pain in this region can also involve the abdominal wall or nearby structures.
According to NIDDK’s gallstone guidance, a gallbladder attack commonly causes upper right abdominal pain and may follow a heavy meal. The pain can last for several hours.
Seek care right away for persistent pain, particularly with vomiting, fever, chills, or jaundice. A meal-related pattern alone cannot identify the cause.
Our guide to gallbladder pain after eating explains the typical pattern and warning signs. For other possibilities in this region, see right side stomach pain after eating.
Upper Middle Abdominal Pain
Burning, discomfort, or fullness in the upper middle abdomen can occur with indigestion, gastritis, ulcers, or reflux-related symptoms. Indigestion may also cause early fullness, bloating, nausea, or belching, as described in NIDDK’s indigestion guidance.
Pancreatitis can cause upper abdominal pain that spreads to the back. Severe or worsening pain, especially with vomiting or feeling seriously unwell, needs immediate medical assessment.
Upper abdominal discomfort with chest pressure, shortness of breath, cold sweating, or lightheadedness can also be a heart attack warning pattern. The American Heart Association recommends calling 911 for heart attack warning signs.
For a fuller comparison of digestive possibilities, read our upper abdominal pain guide.
Upper Left Abdominal Pain
The upper left abdomen includes the stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, and portions of the bowel. Cleveland Clinic’s left-sided pain guide describes possibilities involving these structures, as well as the kidney and pain referred from the chest.
Stomach inflammation or ulcers can cause discomfort here. Gas and constipation may also contribute, but location alone cannot confirm that explanation.
Get prompt assessment for pain after an abdominal injury. Severe pain, faintness, or breathing symptoms require emergency care.
Our guide to left side stomach pain and bloating explores digestive patterns in more detail.
Pain Around the Belly Button or Moving to the Lower Right
Gas and intestinal infections can cause discomfort near the belly button. One important pattern is pain that begins there and then moves toward the lower right abdomen.
NIDDK describes this as a possible appendicitis pattern. Pain may worsen over hours or become more noticeable with movement or coughing. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or fever may occur.
Some people do not have the typical symptoms. Do not wait for fever or vomiting before seeking help for worsening lower right pain. Suspected appendicitis needs immediate assessment.
Lower Left Abdominal Pain
Constipation and other bowel conditions can cause lower left discomfort. Diverticulitis is another possibility, particularly when pain is persistent and accompanied by fever or changes in bowel movements.
According to NIDDK’s diverticular disease guidance, diverticulitis pain most often affects the lower left abdomen. It may begin suddenly or worsen over several days.
Bloating, constipation, or diarrhea can occur with several conditions. New localized pain deserves assessment, especially when it persists, worsens, or occurs with fever or vomiting.
Lower Middle Abdominal or Pelvic Pain
The lower middle abdomen contains bowel and bladder structures. Depending on your anatomy, symptoms can also involve the uterus, ovaries, or other pelvic structures.
A bladder infection may cause lower abdominal discomfort with burning urination, frequent urges to urinate, or changes in urine appearance or smell. Contact a healthcare professional for these symptoms.
Menstrual cramps and other pelvic conditions can also cause pain. Sudden severe pelvic pain, particularly with nausea or vomiting, needs emergency assessment; ovarian torsion is one possible emergency.
If pregnancy is possible, get prompt medical advice for abdominal or pelvic pain. Severe pain, shoulder pain, vaginal bleeding with dizziness, or fainting requires emergency care because of concerns such as ectopic pregnancy.
For digestive patterns in the lower abdomen, see our guide to lower abdominal pain and bloating.
Side or Flank Pain
Flank pain is felt along the side of the body, often between the lower ribs and hip, and may extend toward the back.
Kidney stones can cause pain in the back, side, lower abdomen, or groin. The pain may come in waves and occur with blood in the urine, nausea, or urinary symptoms.
Seek prompt care for this pattern. Fever or chills with side pain and urinary symptoms can also indicate kidney infection and need urgent assessment.
Widespread Pain, Cramping, and Gas
Gas, constipation, and intestinal infections can cause discomfort across several areas. Viral gastroenteritis commonly causes abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
Gas-related bloating can also cause abdominal discomfort. Feeling better after passing gas or having a bowel movement is useful information to report, but it cannot rule out another condition.
Increasing pain with abdominal swelling, vomiting, and inability to pass stool or gas needs emergency care.
Our comparison of gas pain vs something serious explains why the overall symptom pattern matters.
Why Location Alone Cannot Identify the Cause
A stomach pain location chart simplifies a complex area of the body. Organs overlap, some conditions affect more than one region, and pain can be felt away from its source. This is called referred pain.
The intensity also does not reliably measure seriousness. MedlinePlus notes that some serious conditions may initially cause mild pain, while gas or intestinal cramps can feel very uncomfortable.
Symptoms changing over time are especially important. Tell a clinician if the pain moves, becomes focused in one spot, grows more frequent, or feels different from your usual symptoms.
When to Get Medical Help
Get Emergency Care Now
Go to an emergency department for:
- Sudden or severe abdominal pain.
- A rigid, very tender, or markedly swollen abdomen.
- Vomiting blood or material that resembles coffee grounds.
- Black, tarry stools or significant rectal bleeding.
- Abdominal pain with vomiting and inability to pass stool or gas.
- Sudden severe pelvic pain, or possible pregnancy with severe pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, or fainting.
Call 911 for chest pressure, serious breathing difficulty, collapse, or symptoms suggesting a heart attack. These warning signs require action wherever the abdominal pain is located.
Seek Prompt or Same-Day Medical Advice
Contact a healthcare professional promptly if pain is worsening, remains focused in one area, or occurs with:
- Fever or chills.
- Repeated vomiting or difficulty keeping fluids down.
- Yellow skin or eyes.
- Painful urination, blood in the urine, or difficulty urinating.
- Unusual vaginal bleeding or possible pregnancy.
- A recent abdominal injury.
The NHS abdominal pain guidance also emphasizes assessment for worsening, persistent, or recurring symptoms.
Arrange Assessment for Persistent or Recurring Symptoms
Even mild pain deserves attention if it keeps returning, affects eating or daily activities, or accompanies unexplained weight loss or ongoing bowel changes.
If mild pain is not clearly improving within 24–48 hours, contact a clinician. Seek help sooner if it worsens or warning signs appear.
What You Can Do for Mild, Improving Discomfort
If symptoms are mild, improving, and there are no warning signs, simple comfort measures may help while you monitor the situation:
- Sip water or other suitable fluids.
- Eat smaller amounts of food as tolerated.
- Rest and avoid foods or drinks that reliably worsen your symptoms.
- Notice whether the discomfort resolves, changes location, or becomes more intense.
Check with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before using medicines or supplements for new, unexplained pain. Worsening or persistent symptoms need assessment rather than repeated attempts at home treatment.
How to Describe Your Pain at an Appointment
For recurring symptoms without emergency warning signs, a short record can make your appointment more useful. Note:
- Location: Upper or lower, right or left, central, or widespread.
- Beginning: When it started and whether the onset was sudden or gradual.
- Feeling: Burning, aching, cramping, sharp, constant, or coming in waves.
- Changes: Whether it moves or spreads toward the back, shoulder, or groin.
- Timing: Any relationship to meals, bowel movements, urination, activity, or menstruation.
- Other symptoms: Fever, vomiting, bowel changes, urinary symptoms, bleeding, or possible pregnancy.
- Context: Medicines, supplements, recent illnesses, injuries, or previous surgery.
A phone note or ordinary notebook is enough. If you prefer a dedicated paper format, a food and symptom journal is an optional way to organize these observations.
View a food and symptom journal on Amazon.
Recording symptoms should support medical care. If urgent warning signs appear, get help immediately rather than continuing to track them.
How Clinicians Evaluate Abdominal Pain
A clinician considers your symptom history, examines your abdomen, and chooses tests according to the findings. Depending on the situation, evaluation may include blood or urine tests, a pregnancy test, ultrasound, or CT imaging.
The location chart helps organize the description. The examination and appropriate tests help distinguish conditions with similar symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Side Is Appendicitis Pain Usually On?
Appendicitis commonly causes lower right abdominal pain. It may begin around the belly button and move lower and to the right, but atypical patterns occur. Worsening pain needs immediate assessment even without fever.
Can Gas Hurt on Either Side of the Abdomen?
Gas-related discomfort can affect different abdominal areas. Bloating and passing gas may accompany it, but those symptoms do not confirm that gas is the only cause.
Does Left-Sided Pain Always Mean Diverticulitis?
No. Diverticulitis often causes lower left pain, but constipation, other bowel conditions, and urinary or pelvic problems can affect the same region. Diagnosis requires more than location.
Can You Have a Serious Condition With Mild Pain?
Yes. Early symptoms can be mild. Pay attention to new pain, changes over time, associated symptoms, and whether the discomfort persists.
Use the Chart to Describe What You Feel
Knowing the location can make it easier to explain your symptoms and find the relevant information. Include how the pain started, how it is changing, and any other symptoms when you seek advice.
For mild discomfort that settles, observation may be sufficient. For persistent, worsening, or severe pain, getting assessed is the next practical step.
This article provides general health education. A location chart cannot diagnose abdominal pain or replace an individual medical assessment.