Causes of dull pain in the xiphoid process and ribs

The xiphoid process is located at the lower end of the sternum and plays a vital role in protecting the heart. Once this part is hit violently, the heart will be strongly shaken, which will cause the xiphoid cartilage to directly compress the heart. It can also directly stimulate the central nervous system above the stomach, causing people to immediately have symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, or due to xiphoid cartilage fractures. Below are some explanations about the dull pain in the xiphoid process and ribs and the causes they cause.

The sternum is a flat bone located in the middle of the chest. The upper part of the sternum is wider and is called the manubrium. The middle part of the sternum is rectangular and is called the body of the sternum. The lower end of the sternum is a thin bone of irregular shape called the xiphoid process. The xiphoid process is located at the lower end of the sternal body. The upper end is connected to the sternal body, and the lower end is free, approximately level with the ninth thoracic vertebra. The sternum looks like a downward-pointing sword, and the xiphoid process is the lowest part of the sternum.

Causes of pain:

Xiphoid process, there is a xiphoid cartilage at the lower front end of the chest wall in the heart area, which plays a role in protecting the heart. If this place is hit violently, the heart will be strongly shaken, causing the xiphoid cartilage to directly press on the heart. It can also directly stimulate the central nervous system above the stomach, causing people to immediately feel chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, or due to the fracture of the xiphoid cartilage, the cartilage stump can easily pierce the heart. It may also be chronic superficial gastritis.

Note:

Before treating chronic superficial gastritis, other diseases such as costal neuralgia, muscle pain, and visceral traction pain should be ruled out.

Liver pain refers to the feeling of pain in the right rib area or under the xiphoid process, and the pain is intermittent or persistent. Dull pain or stabbing pain, before the pain, the patient may feel discomfort in the right upper abdomen. The pain may be mild or severe or relieve on its own for a short period of time. The main cause of pain is the rapid enlargement of the tumor, which compresses the liver capsule and produces pulling pain. It can also be caused by necrotic products of the tumor irritating the liver capsule. A small number of patients experience severe pain in the liver area spontaneously or suddenly after liver puncture, which is mostly due to cancerous nodules located on the surface of the liver.