Renal colic (literally, kidney pain), also known as ureteric colic (literally, pain in the ureters), is characterized bysevere abdominal pain that is spasmodic in nature. This pain is primarily caused by an obstruction of one or both ureters from dislodged kidney stones. The most frequent site of obstruction is at the vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ), the narrowest point of the upper urinary tract. Acute (sudden onset) obstruction of a ureter can result in urinary stasis - the disruption or cessation of urine flow into the bladder. This, in turn, can cause distention of the ureter, known as a (hydroureter). The obstruction and distention of the ureter(s) results in reflexive peristaltic smooth muscle spasms or contractions, which then cause very intense and diffuse (widespread) visceral pain affecting the organs of the pelvis, abdomen and even the thoracic area. This intense, diffuse pain is transmitted via the ureteric plexus, a branching network of intersecting nerves that cover and innervate the ureters.
>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
Visceral pain in the context of Gallstone
A gallstone is a stone formed within the gallbladder from precipitated bile components. The term cholelithiasis may refer to the presence of gallstones or to any disease caused by gallstones, and choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of migrated gallstones within bile ducts.
Most people with gallstones (about 80%) are asymptomatic. However, when a gallstone obstructs the bile duct and causes acute cholestasis, a reflexive smooth muscle spasm often occurs, resulting in an intense cramp-like visceral pain in the right upper part of the abdomen known as a biliary colic (or "gallbladder attack"). This happens in 1–4% of those with gallstones each year. Complications from gallstones may include inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), obstructive jaundice, and infection in bile ducts (cholangitis). Symptoms of these complications may include pain that lasts longer than five hours, fever, yellowish skin, vomiting, dark urine, and pale stools.