sources

What are the sources of chest pain?

The source of pain may arise from a variety of potential sources:

• The chest wall including the ribs, the muscles, and the skin;
• The back including the spine, the nerves, and the back muscles;
• The lung, the pleura (the lining of the lung) or the trachea;
• The heart including the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart);
• The aorta;
• The esophagus;
• The diaphragm, the flat muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities;
• Referred pain from abdominal organs like the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas.
  

While each source of chest pain may have a classic presentation of signs and symptoms, there is significant overlap among the symptoms of each condition, and the symptoms may also be affected by age, gender and race.

« Index of "Chest Pain"
« Introduction
» What are the symptoms and causes of chest pain?