Which type of abdominal pain causes pain in an area of the body other than the source?

• A. Visceral Pain
• B. Parietal Pain
• C. Referred Pain
• D. Appendicitis

Answer: (D)

Referred pain is when pain from an internal organ is felt at a distant location on the body. This happens because visceral nerves from the organ share spinal cord pathways with nerves that supply the skin, so the brain misinterprets the source and perceives it in a different area. In contrast, visceral pain from abdominal organs is typically dull and poorly localized, while parietal pain from the peritoneum is sharp and well localized. Appendicitis is a condition that causes abdominal pain, not a type of pain. The described scenario—pain felt away from the source—best fits referred pain.