Colic

Colic, severe abdominal pain, a symptom of several disorders.

When arising in the intestine, it is characterized by spasmodic and irregular contractions of the muscular coat of the intestines.
Intestinal colic is often caused by infection, obstruction, irritating food, or purgative medicine. The etiology of infant intestinal colic is poorly understood, although gas and disturbed digestion are suspected causes.
Renal colic is caused by a passage of a calculus, or stone, from the kidney through the ureter into the urinary bladder.
Biliary colic is caused by the passage of a gallstone from the gallbladder into the bile ducts.
The symptoms of colic are often confused with those of appendicitis and peritonitis.