McBurney point !
- Sign
A spot in the lower right abdomen; marked pain when it is pressed suggests appendicitis.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Appendix · Cecum · Ileum · Peritoneum
What it is
McBurney point lies on the line from the right anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus, one third of the way from the spine. It roughly marks the base of the appendix on the cecum. Tenderness to deep pressure there (McBurney sign) is a classic finding in acute appendicitis, though it is neither necessary nor sufficient for the diagnosis, because the position of the appendix varies.
The anatomy it tests
- The point roughly marks the base of the appendix, where it joins the posteromedial cecum at the meeting point of the taeniae coli.
- The tip of the appendix varies a lot (retrocecal, pelvic, subcecal, pre-ileal or post-ileal), which moves the site of pain.
- Early pain is visceral (fibers entering at spinal segment T10, felt at the umbilicus); once inflammation reaches the parietal peritoneum the pain becomes somatic and localized.
How to elicit it
- Patient supine with knees flexed; the examiner on the right.
- Feel the right anterior superior iliac spine and the umbilicus; picture the line between them.
- Find the point one third of the way from the spine to the umbilicus.
- Start palpating in the left lower quadrant and work toward the right iliac fossa.
- Press deeply and gradually with the palmar surface of the fingers over the point.
- Look for localized pain, guarding and the patient's expression; ask whether it is the same pain that brought them in.
- Add the tests for rebound, Rovsing, psoas and obturator, leaving the most painful ones for last.
What a positive result means
- Positive: localized, reproducible tenderness when the point is pressed, often with guarding.
- Suggests acute appendicitis with parietal peritoneal irritation; well-localized pain means the inflammation has reached the serosa.
- Other causes of tenderness there: mesenteric adenitis, ileitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion, ruptured ovarian cyst, pelvic inflammatory disease, a right ureteral stone.
- A painless point does not rule out appendicitis: retrocecal or pelvic appendix, young children, older adults, pregnancy and obesity.
Usefulness and limits
- In words: moderate sensitivity and specificity; it is more useful combined with pain migration, fever and white cell count in clinical scores.
- Ultrasound, especially in children and pregnant women, and CT in adults confirm or exclude the diagnosis when the picture is unclear.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Where is McBurney point?
On the line from the right anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus, one third of the way from the spine.
Which structure does McBurney point roughly mark?
The base of the appendix, where it joins the cecum.
Why may a patient with appendicitis have no tenderness at McBurney point?
The tip of the appendix may be retrocecal or in the pelvis, or pushed up by pregnancy, so the pain appears elsewhere.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Rebound tenderness (Blumberg sign)
- Rovsing, psoas and obturator signs
- Abdominal regions and quadrants: what lies under each
- Abdominal palpation: light and deep, guarding and masses
- Acute abdomen and peritoneal irritation
Related conditions
Educational content on the clinical exam; it is learned and practised under supervision. It does not replace assessment by a health professional and is not for self-diagnosis.
Sources: Appendicitis - Gastroenterology - Merck Manual Professional Edition (Merck & Co., Inc., 2025); McBurney's point (Wikipedia, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.