For medical purposes, the abdomen is divided into four quadrants: right upper and lower, and left upper and lower. Pain in each of those quadrants usually refers to a problem related to organs that lie within that area. This, in combination with other symptoms like fever, vomiting or diarrhea, can help establish the cause of abdominal pain. Pain in the lower right quadrant can have several causes.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of right lower quadrant pain. According to an article by Dr. D. Mike Hardin, Jr., of Texas A&M University Health Science Center, the lifetime occurrence of appendicitis is around 7 percent, making it the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a small, tubular structure that protrudes from the intestine in the right lower quadrant. The initial pain of appendicitis is transmitted to the umbilical area, but then becomes more pronounced and moves to the right lower quadrant. Surgical intervention is necessary before the appendix ruptures, which can cause peritonitis, an infection of the abdominal cavity.
Intestinal Obstruction
Intestinal obstruction is another cause of right quadrant pain. An obstruction happens when something impedes the normal flow of intestinal contents. This can be a foreign body, like an ingested toy or other small object; from inflammation or swelling around the intestine, like a swollen lymph node or a cancer like lymphoma; or from adhesions, which are thick bands of tissue that happen as a result of surgery in the area. Another potential cause of obstruction and pain is diverticulitis, or inflammation of an abnormal pouching of the intestinal wall.
Kidney Stones
Although not in the abdomen, kidney problems can cause pain in the right lower quadrant. For example, kidney stones can cause pain in the lower right quadrant. The stones form in the kidney and then go down the ureters, the long tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. The ureters pass through the right lower quadrant, so when the stone passes through them, it can cause pain in that area.
Ovarian Cysts
Because of the ovaries' location, an ovarian cysts can cause pain in the lower right quadrant. Ovarian cysts are fluid filled pockets of tissue that grow within the ovary. When they rupture, they can cause significant pain. Most ovarian cysts are benign, but the pain can be excruciating and warrant medical intervention.
