painful cramps of the abdomen; are they called colic?

It is true that pain related to SPASM of particular types of organs in the abdomen may be referred to as colic. However, if you are trying to teach the proper word for 'painful cramps of the abdomen', it would not be considered precise enough to say an adult suffers from 'colic'. (This is a term used for babies.) Indeed, the doctor or nurse would more clearly identify where the pain was occurring. An example of being more specific is Renal Colic, a condition which most occurs when someone passes a kidney stone. Menstrual cramps on the other hand are RARELY IF EVER referred to as menstrual or ovarian colic. They are 'mentrual cramps'. The medical term for this is dysmenorrhea.
...Melodie...