Thoracic Spine Visceral Referred Pain

Cardiopulmonary Tract:

Structure Segmental innervation Possible areas of pain referral
Heart T1-T5 Anterior cervical spine
Upper thoracic spine
Left upper extremity
Lungs and bronchi T5-T6 Ipsilateral thoracic spine
Cervical spine (diaphragm involved)

 

Digestive Tract:

Structure Segmental innervation Possible areas of pain referral
Stomach T6-T10 Upper abdominal
Middle & lower thoracic spine
Small intestine T7-T10 Middle thoracic spine
Pancreas T6-T10 Upper abdominal
Lower thoracic spine
Upper lumbar spine
Gallbladder T7-T9 Right upper abdominal
Right middle & lower thoracic spine
including caudal aspect of scapula
Liver T7-T9 Right middle & lower thoracic spine
Right cervical spine
Common bile duct T6-T10 Upper abdominal
Middle thoracic spine

Study Reliability Sn Sp LR+ LR-
Boissonnault et al. (1990) NA NA NA NA NA