Appendicitis produces tenderness to palpation in the area of McBurney's point, located at which dermatomal level?

Appendicitis produces tenderness to palpation in the area of McBurney's point, located at which dermatomal level?

• A. T12 Right
• B. L1 Right
• C. T10 Left
• D. T6 Right

Answer: (A)

Pain from appendicitis first travels with visceral afferents and is felt around the umbilicus, but as the inflammation irritates the parietal peritoneum in the right lower quadrant, the somatic nerves respond with sharp, localized pain at McBurney’s point. That area corresponds to the T12 dermatome on the right side, which is why tenderness there is the classic sign. In short, McBurney’s point tenderness maps to the right T12 dermatomal level, reflecting irritation of the parietal peritoneum over the appendix.

Pain from appendicitis first travels with visceral afferents and is felt around the umbilicus, but as the inflammation irritates the parietal peritoneum in the right lower quadrant, the somatic nerves respond with sharp, localized pain at McBurney’s point. That area corresponds to the T12 dermatome on the right side, which is why tenderness there is the classic sign. In short, McBurney’s point tenderness maps to the right T12 dermatomal level, reflecting irritation of the parietal peritoneum over the appendix.