Epigastrium
The human epigastrium is the abdominal region between the costal arch and the navel and is therefore also known as the upper abdomen and, more restrictively, as the pit of the stomach .
In the upper abdomen are the stomach , duodenum , pancreas and on the right the liver and gallbladder , on the left under the costal arch in the depths of the abdomen the spleen . Otherwise, parts of the colon and small intestine are also located in the upper abdomen. In slim people, the aorta to the left of the midline can be palpated at least above the navel .
This variety of structures as well as the fact that pain can also be projected into the upper abdomen when organs in the vicinity are diseased makes it understandable that the clarification of upper abdominal complaints requires a careful examination.
As with reflux, gastroduodenal ulcer and pancreatitis can also at heart attacks and pektanginösen complaints and at a appendicitis (with upturned appendix pain radiating into the upper abdomen).
In the case of somatization disorders , pain, a feeling of fullness or, less often, tingling in the upper abdomen are also reported.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ulrike Arnold (Red.): Pschyrembel clinical dictionary . 263rd edition Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-11-025166-1 .
- ↑ Marco Niedergethmann, Stefan Post: Differential diagnosis of upper abdominal pain. In: Deutsches Ärzteblatt , March 31, 2006.
- ↑ Babak Etemad, David C. Whitcomb: Chronic pancreatitis: Diagnosis, classification, and new genetic developments. In: Gastroenterology , February 1, 2001.