A person with abdominal tenderness has abdominal pain when pressing down on the abdomen.

Tenderness that is located in one area of the abdomen can provide an important clue to the underlying cause:

• Tenderness in the right upper abdomen
• Tenderness in the left upper abdomen
• Tenderness in the right lower abdomen
• Tenderness in the left lower abdomen

The combination of abdominal pain and abdominal tenderness increases the risk for a more significant underlying illness. Many minor conditions can cause abdominal pain, but few conditions also cause abdominal tenderness.

Other important features of abdominal tenderness include:

• Severity: mild, moderate or severe
• Associated symptoms: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.