Pain of a hollow viscus could be caused by which of the following conditions?

• A. Peritoneal infection unrelated to hollow viscus
• B. Osteoarthritis
• C. Gastroenteritis, constipation, menstrual cramps, and gallbladder symptoms
• D. Migraine

Answer: (C)

Pain from hollow organs tends to come from the organ distending, becoming inflamed, or contracting forcefully. Conditions that affect hollow visci include gastroenteritis (inflammation of the GI tract), constipation (distension of the bowel), menstrual cramps (uterine contractions), and gallbladder symptoms (disease of a hollow organ that stores bile). Each of these scenarios involves the lumen of a hollow structure, leading to crampy, diffuse, or poorly localized visceral pain that reflects irritation of the organ itself or its smooth muscle activity. By contrast, a peritoneal infection not specifically tied to a hollow viscus tends to irritate the peritoneum, while osteoarthritis and migraine involve joints or the nervous system, not hollow organs.