What is being checked?

We examine which areas of the abdomen are uncomfortable, check for tension and tenderness, feel for cold or hot sensations, and see if digestive or bowel symptoms are present.

Does this serve the same purpose as imaging tests?

No. Abdominal examination is a physical examination method and does not replace imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT. If acute pain or organ disease is suspected, necessary tests take priority.

Can this be done remotely?

While the areas and changes felt by the patient can be discussed during a medical interview, there are cases where medical staff must physically palpate the area. If necessary, you will be guided to visit the clinic for an in-person evaluation.

What should I report before the evaluation?

Please let us know when the pain started, its relationship with meals or bowel movements, your surgical history, possibility of pregnancy, medications you are taking, and recent test results.

To understand abdominal examination results in connection with your symptoms

In an abdominal examination, we do not only look for the location of pain, but simultaneously check for abdominal rigidity, tenderness upon pressure, skin temperature, and changes in digestion or bowel movements. Since the tactile sensation can vary due to defensive muscle tension or anxiety, a single finding is not interpreted as a fixed constitution.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: An abdominal examination is a physical exam performed by medical staff using their hands, whereas ultrasound and CT are imaging tests used to check the structure of organs. These two methods do not replace each other; even if a discomforting area is found during an abdominal examination, the presence of organ disease is confirmed through necessary tests.
Information to record before your visit: Please mark the location of the pain within a range of one or two finger joints and note whether it changes based on meals, bowel movements, menstruation, or posture. You should also provide information on recent surgeries, possibility of pregnancy, medications, and test results so that the priority for physical examination can be determined.
Scope of this material: WHO materials were used to verify the meaning of traditional medicine examination terms, and MedlinePlus materials were used to distinguish the medical scope of abdominal pain verification. If sudden severe pain occurs, the abdomen becomes hard, or it is accompanied by vomiting, bleeding, or high fever, do not rely solely on the abdominal examination explanation and seek immediate medical attention at a healthcare institution.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of abdominal examination, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideAbdominal Cold Syndrome

Symptom and Disease GuideUpper-Heat Lower-Cold Syndrome

Heat-Cold ColumnCauses of abdominal coldness: Korean medicine treatment for when the abdomen feels cold and is accompanied by indigestion or diarrhea

We categorize abdominal coldness, where the abdomen feels cold and chilly, into decreased digestion, loose stools, post-meal fatigue, and lower abdominal coldness, and explain herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments to restore the spleen, stomach, and lower burner (lower abdomen and pelvic region).

Heat and Cold ColumnWhy is my abdomen cold? Is it simply a matter of blood circulation?

When symptoms of cold hands, feet, and abdomen persist, we look beyond simple lack of circulation to examine the causes and characteristics of coldness from a Korean medicine perspective and provide a checklist for self-assessment.

Heat and Cold ColumnMy abdomen feels hot: Abdominal heat sensations that vary after meals, on an empty stomach, or at night, and Korean medicine treatment

We categorize how the feeling of abdominal heat differs after meals, on an empty stomach, or at night, and explain herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments based on stomach heat, qi stagnation, deficiency heat, and skin sensation.

Medical GuideWhat should I record before a consultation for heat or cold sensations?

Even if the cause was not revealed in tests, you can describe your discomfort in detail. By noting the onset time, location, times when symptoms worsen, and changes in sweating, numbness, dry mouth, or sleep, and by preparing previous test results and medications, we can more accurately examine the patterns of heat and cold and the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Medical GuideIf my face is hot and my feet are cold, is it Sangyeol-Hahan (upper heat, lower cold)?

Even if test results are normal, heat in the face and coldness in the feet and lower abdomen are real symptoms that can disrupt sleep, meals, and outings. In Korean medicine, this is viewed as a distribution of heat and cold known as Sangyeol-Hahan, and the treatment direction is determined based on the timing and sequence of upper and lower symptoms and their connection to sweating, throbbing, digestion, and sleep.

Comparison of similar terms

Medical TerminologyCold-Heat Pattern Identification

Pattern identification (Byeon-jeung) is the process of examining the location and timing of heat or cold sensations, as well as accompanying patterns such as sleep, digestion, and sweating, through medical interviews and physical examinations. It is not a substitute for medical tests or diagnoses.

Medical TerminologyPulse Diagnosis

Pulse diagnosis is a Korean medicine examination that checks the pulse at the wrist. A diagnosis is not determined by pulse diagnosis alone, but is interpreted alongside medical interviews, other examinations, and existing test results.

Medical TerminologyTongue Diagnosis

Tongue diagnosis is a Korean medicine examination that observes the color, shape, and coating of the tongue. A condition is not determined by tongue diagnosis alone, but is interpreted alongside medical interviews, pulse diagnosis, and existing test results.

Medical TerminologyMedical Interview

Medical interview is the process of confirming when and where heat or cold sensations begin and what factors cause them to change. It is the starting point for specifying the symptoms felt by the patient and determining the direction for necessary tests and examinations.