What is on the left side of a person: what organs can hurt, internal organs on the left

Remembering the basics of human anatomy, we can confidently list the organs that are located specifically in the area of the left hypochondrium. And it is here that nature has determined the place for the pancreas, spleen, part of the diaphragm and intestines. Therefore, when pain occurs in the hypochondrium on the left, it is almost impossible to immediately say with certainty what exactly caused it. Only a doctor can determine the source of the pain that has arisen, who, before making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment, will conduct an examination, examine and interview the patient.

What can cause pain?

A person has several organs under his left rib, so when suddenly pain occurs in this area, you need to look for the cause carefully, without getting hung up on the idea that only the heart can hurt in this side.

Causes of pelvic pain on the left side

Urological problems that affect men of all ages. Also gynecological diseases that manifest exclusively in women.
Genital cancer or seemingly harmless benign tumors that can put pressure on organs and interfere with their healthy functioning.
Pathological changes and inflammation of the intestines and other digestive organs.
Orthopedic problems: scoliosis, spinal injury, poor posture, any fractures of both the spine and ribs. Inflammation can occur in the bones and joints, which is painful.

These are the most common factors that indicate that the body is suffering from an illness in the left side of the body. But there are also other reasons, for example, pathologies of the heart or spleen. On the left side there are organs responsible for important processes of the entire body. They are most susceptible to risk and all kinds of inflammation. In order to recognize the nature of the disease in time and identify the source of the disease, you need to know what symptoms appear and what the intensity of the pain is. Knowing these details will help you take the right actions that will temporarily alleviate the condition until you see a doctor.

Abdominal wall

These are soft tissues that prevent damage to the internal organs that are located on the left side of a person’s lower abdomen. When complaining of acute or nagging pain, patients most often point to the anterior left part of the abdominal wall. It consists of several layers:

Types of pain in the left side

Pain manifests itself in different ways, and the correct diagnosis depends on this. The intensity and duration of pain most often indicates its cause.

Table. Types of pain:

Type of pain	Preliminary diagnosis
Sharp pain	He talks about diseases of the pelvic organs, about inflammatory processes occurring in the bladder.
Blunt pain	May become an indicator of gynecological ailments. In less dangerous cases, it occurs simply from bruises and is eliminated by applying cold.
Stitching pain	Often manifests itself during inflammation of the vertebral discs and other skeletal-related ailments. If the abdomen is hard and swollen, then this symptom may indicate inflammation of the ovarian cyst.
Nagging pain	It is most characteristic of purulent infectious diseases. In men it can occur due to pathology of the scrotum. Often indicates the presence of cancer at a late stage.

If the temperature rises sharply and is accompanied by pain, then this is a manifestation of infectious diseases of the internal organs of the pelvis. If the patient suffers from constant nausea and vomiting, this may indicate the presence of a stomach or duodenal ulcer, inflammation of the intestines, pancreatitis and other diseases.

In case of sudden pain attacks, you cannot hesitate: you must immediately call an ambulance so that doctors can help immediately.

Life-threatening symptoms:

incessant pain along the entire left side, which intensifies and does not subside even after taking painkillers;
a hard and swollen abdomen, which can be seen even without palpation;
severe vomiting with blood clots or blood found in the stool.

Stomach hurts after eating

With bloating due to excess gas formation, pain usually occurs after eating in the area around the navel, and the attacks are cramping in nature. In this case, the discomfort usually decreases after the gases pass. In case of flatulence or overeating, abdominal pain goes away on its own within a few hours.

In irritable bowel syndrome, the regulation of the colon is disrupted. This disease is characterized by periodic severe cramping or cutting pain in the abdomen, combined with a strong urge to go big. Moreover, attacks almost never occur during sleep, and their frequency increases under stress.

In such situations, it is recommended to adjust your diet. You should not eat a lot, or indulge in sweets, fresh baked goods and legumes (peas, beans, lentils). If changing your diet does not help and the pain continues, you should consult a gastroenterologist. Irritable bowel syndrome also requires a course of treatment as prescribed by a doctor.

Pain in women

In men and women, some organs of the reproductive system are located in the lower left, the defeat of which provokes painful sensations. In the fairer sex, this is the ovary:

During inflammatory processes occurring in the organ, a nagging pain occurs, which intensifies with movement.
A formed cyst can also cause discomfort, including nausea, vomiting, and fever. The nature of menstruation also changes - they become abundant and are accompanied by pain.
Rupture of the follicle during ovulation can cause severe pain.

A woman may also experience an ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg remains in the fallopian tube and begins to divide. The fallopian tube enlarges, discomfort and vaginal bleeding appear. When a rupture occurs, a sharp, severe pain appears, internal bleeding begins, against the background of which the pressure drops and loss of consciousness is observed. Pathological discharge, menstrual irregularities, and the appearance of various types of pain in the anterior lower abdomen may indicate the development of fibroids or malignant neoplasms.

Lower left ribs

On the front left side, the ribs completely cover the area of the spleen and partially cover the left side of the stomach. In the case of splenomegaly, the spleen protrudes from under the lower rib and is easily palpable.

There are twelve pairs of ribs in total. The upper seven pairs (the so-called true ribs) are attached to the sternum in front and to the spinal column at the back. The three lower pairs of ribs (called “false ribs”) are fused, thereby forming the costal arch. Even lower are two pairs of ribs (“floating”) - they are not attached to either the sternum or the spinal column. They end in the muscle layer on the side. Some people may occasionally have a thirteenth pair of ribs - this is a physiological feature.

Problems of the stronger sex

In men, discomfort developing in the left side may be associated with the prostate when the inflammatory processes are concentrated in the corresponding area. Symptoms may be as follows:

Pain of various types, more severe in an acute process. If the form of the pathology is chronic, pain is reduced or absent. The pain can be localized not only in the lower abdomen and perineum, but also radiate to the genitals, intensifying with urination, defecation, erection, and ejaculation.
The urination process may become more frequent, with a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, and false urges appear. The nature of the process often changes - the stream becomes sluggish, intermittent, and effort is required to urinate. If the inflammation is acute, swelling of the prostate gland is observed.
Sexual dysfunction most often develops with the chronic nature of the inflammatory process. The erection becomes sluggish, the inability to complete sexual intercourse appears, and premature ejaculation is observed.

A side effect is psychological discomfort, in which a man is unable to feel his worth. The state of the nervous system worsens, insomnia and depression appear.

After we have decided what is located on the left under the ribs, we need to understand the nature of the pain that may arise. First, let's be clear that this is not just a feeling of discomfort. Pain is a signal of a health problem. And self-diagnosis and self-medication can be not only ineffective, but also often dangerous.

Spleen

Previously, this organ was considered part of the digestive system, but now, after careful study, experts say that it primarily works to maintain the immune system. The job of the spleen is to filter the bloodstream and make sure that important bacteria perform their functions. It purifies the blood, recognizes pathogenic viruses and destroys them.

Since the organ is very close to the skin, it is easy to injure if you hit your side or fall on it, or get hit in a fight. If you jump into the water from a great height and hit your stomach, or get into a car accident, you can damage this delicate and not at all protected organ. Due to such injuries, the spleen may begin to increase in size or rupture if the blow is strong enough. In this case, heavy bleeding occurs in the peritoneum, and pain begins in the left side of the abdomen. If the bleeding is not stopped, the person may die from its loss.

Microbial processes can develop in the spleen, causing purulent pathologies and abscesses. In addition to infectious diseases, a splenic infarction or some kind of neoplasm in the organ may occur.

The main symptoms of spleen diseases:

heat;
general weakness of the body;
high blood pressure;
intense pain in the left side, which gradually begins to spread throughout the body.

If the damage to the integrity of the spleen is due to physical trauma, you should immediately apply an ice pack to the abdomen in order to stop the bleeding and slightly dull the pain. At the same time, it is dangerous to continue treatment at home, since a ruptured or damaged spleen poses a great danger to the entire body.

After providing first aid to yourself or another person, you should immediately call an ambulance. It is important to control that the patient does not lose consciousness all the time until the doctors arrive.

Heart

The most common cause of death is heart muscle disease. Factors that can cause problems include congenital diseases, exposure to infectious pathogens, the presence of atherosclerosis and hypertension, negative external influences, stressful conditions and poor lifestyle. Suspicious signs include:

Swelling of the lower extremities.
The appearance of shortness of breath.
Causeless dry cough.
Burning in the back area on the left, rapid, dull pain.
Cardiopalmus.

Heart diseases include angina and arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, myocardial defect and infarction. The latter disease is especially dangerous, so you need to know its main symptoms. There may be prolonged pain behind the sternum, but nitroglycerin does not relieve it. Gradually, the pain spreads to the entire left upper side of the body, and unreasonable fear and a state of panic arise. The interval between attacks is 15 minutes. With such manifestations, an urgent call to a medical team is necessary.

Stomach

It is a hollow muscular organ that is responsible for digestion. The shape and size of the stomach differ from a person’s physique and its fullness. In its normal state, the organ filled with food measures up to 25 cm in length. It has several membranes.

Functions of the stomach

Processing and accumulation of food. Complete processing does not occur in the stomach, but it begins here. In the upper part of the stomach, food accumulates, and in the lower part the first stages of breakdown occur. Only liquids are not retained in the walls of the stomach, for example, alcohol is instantly absorbed and enters the blood.
Protection of the body. Unprocessed food enters the stomach, which means bacteria, viruses, and all microorganisms from the external environment. The organ contains hydrochloric acid, which can kill most harmful bacteria.
Moving food into the intestines. The stomach turns food into a mass, which then enters the intestines and continues its breakdown. A healthy organ can digest even very complex and almost incompatible food combinations. Drinks and water from the stomach immediately enter the intestinal tract - this movement takes just a couple of minutes. But as for carbohydrates, they will advance only after two hours. Fats take a very long time to digest, unlike carbohydrates and proteins.

Several factors can negatively affect your stomach. For example, Helicobacter is a common cause that provokes gastritis and can even lead the organ to a precancerous state. The patient experiences unpleasant, even painful sensations on the left side under the rib.

Pancreas

The organs on the left include the pancreas, problems with which may cause pain in the hypochondrium. The gland is located in the upper section of the abdomen and is involved in digestive processes. It is in it that fat-breaking enzymes and certain enzymes are generated, and hormones are produced that are responsible for the amount of various substances in the body.

The discomfort that appears may indicate a number of diseases, the most common of which is pancreatitis. It is characterized by inflammatory processes in the tissues of the pancreas and impaired digestion and is accompanied by:

Sharp significant pain.
Nausea and vomiting attacks.
Stool disorder.
Increasing the temperature to 380C.

However, pancreatitis is not the only pathology that causes unpleasant symptoms. The reason may lie in metabolic disorders, poor diet with large amounts of fatty or heavy foods, overeating, or bad habits. A negative reaction can also occur with the use of various drugs or with pathologies of the liver and bile ducts, which leads to digestive problems.

Uterus

The uterus is located in the middle of the pelvis, slightly further than the bladder, but in front of the rectum. At the same time, it is quite mobile and may not be located exclusively in the middle, but somewhere closer to the left side, depending on the location of other organs.

Uterine diseases have a range of symptoms. These are aching unpleasant sensations in front or on the left side of the abdomen. Due to diseases, menstruation can be very irregular - unjustified delays occur or prolonged bleeding occurs, which can be dangerous for the body as a whole.

There may be discharge of an unusual color from the female organs. All this suggests that the uterus is inflamed or there is a malfunction of the ovaries. Perhaps a fibroid or another type of tumor has formed in the organ. For examination and treatment, you need to contact a gynecologist and perform an ultrasound.

With uterine cancer, pain appears only in the very last stages, when surgery and complete removal of the organ simply cannot be avoided.

The most common organ diseases include:

benign tumor;
endometriosis, when the mucous membrane inside the organ begins to grow and increase in size;
polyps that grow on the mucous membrane;
cancer.

Vessels and nerves of the abdominal cavity

The blood supply to the peritoneal organs is a complex topic, which will take a lot of time to delve into. The most important artery of the abdominal cavity is a large vessel called the abdominal aorta. It is a continuation of the thoracic aorta. The abdominal aorta branches to every organ, to every tissue.

The main branches of the abdominal aorta:

superior mesenteric artery;
inferior mesenteric artery;
lumbar and inferior phrenic arteries;
ovarian arteries;
renal arteries;
adrenal arteries.

The main nerve plexuses located on the left side of the abdominal cavity are:

abdominal aortic;
sunny;
diaphragmatic;
hepatic;
upper and lower gastric;
adrenal;
splenic.

What is located on the left side of a person’s abdomen and can cause pain of a sharp, sudden nature? Perhaps these are vascular diseases of the abdominal cavity. The most common of them:

mesenteric thrombosis;
abdominal aortic aneurysm;
atherosclerosis of mesenteric arteries;
thrombosis of the arteries of the abdominal organs.

These are very complex diseases, and you cannot diagnose them yourself. It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination by a phlebologist, angiologist, cardiologist, and neurologist.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of organs in the left side

Regardless of the nature and intensity of pain in the left side, it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis without specific knowledge and special equipment for a detailed study. Only a specialist can do this. First, you need to see a therapist, who will refer you to a specialized doctor. This could be a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, or even an infectious disease specialist. In some cases, neurotic pain occurs due to pinched nerves or severe hypothermia. Then it makes sense to visit a neurologist. If you have problems with posture or some bone diseases, you should definitely see a traumatologist or surgeon.

Stomach hurts at night

Aching pain in the abdomen at night is characteristic of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Pain in the pit of the stomach usually occurs on an empty stomach and may subside after eating or taking antacids, for example, Maalox or Almagel. People with an exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease often complain that their stomach hurts at night. There may also be a feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating and rapid satiety.

For an accurate diagnosis of gastritis and peptic ulcers, consult a doctor. He will order an endoscopic examination. But if, in addition to pain, you are worried about a lack of appetite and you are losing weight quickly, visit a doctor immediately.

If you feel such pain, it is advisable to follow a certain diet. It should be based on semi-liquid porridges and soups. You need to give up smoking, alcohol, black coffee, hot spices.

Medicines should be recommended by a doctor taking into account examination data. The fact is that in many cases the cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Accordingly, it is recommended to include antibiotics in the treatment regimen.

Where to go for help?

If there is pain under the ribs on the left, what should you do? Often a person, faced with such problems, simply does not know which specialist to turn to. However, delay can lead to a worsening of the condition, so you can go to any doctor who will refer you to the right address. In addition, sometimes a person knows that he has certain diseases. Therefore, during the period when these diseases worsen, you should go to your doctor.

If the pain occurs suddenly, then the best option would be to contact an emergency medical service. Then the doctor or emergency paramedic, having provided you with first aid, will decide on hospitalization or recommend contacting a specialist. Only a complete examination and clinical tests will allow the doctor to get a complete picture of the disease, and therefore correctly prescribe treatment. Thus, it is possible to determine exactly what caused the pain under the ribs, its nature, causes, treatment, only in a hospital setting.

Summarizing the above, we can conclude that pain in the left hypochondrium often indicates the presence of serious diseases. Therefore, the sooner the cause is identified, the sooner you can begin to eliminate it. In addition, the speed of decision-making on treatment issues often prevents the transition of diseases to the chronic stage.

Internal organs on the left under the ribs: human anatomy, diagram with description

Before understanding the basics of the appearance of such an unpleasant phenomenon as pain, let's turn to human anatomy. It is important to understand which organs are present in the indicated part of the abdomen. The information will allow you to understand what triggered the onset of unexpected pain. On the left side, below the ribs, organs that are important for the functioning of the body are located - in front, diagram with description:

Left under the ribs in front: internal organs

Behind, on the left under the ribs, above and below the ribs are the following internal organs:

Important: Even a minor disruption in the functioning of these organs can cause pain and discomfort. At the first such unpleasant manifestations, consult a doctor.

If you have even the slightest idea about the location of the internal organs, you can guess which of them may be the source of pain. However, pain often manifests itself in a completely different place, and not where the organ itself is located. Accordingly, it can be difficult to determine the cause without special research.

Advice: Do not try to diagnose or prescribe treatment for yourself. This should only be done by a qualified doctor. At the first symptoms of illness, contact the clinic.