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Inguinal hernia
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An inguinal hernia is an opening in the abdominal wall, in the groin area, through which organs from inside the abdomen can protrude. That wall is musculofascial, meaning it is made of layers of muscle and fascia, the fibrous sheet that wraps the muscles.
In the groin, the wall has a natural passage called the inguinal canal, which runs from a deep ring to a more superficial one. A hernia can take two routes. An indirect hernia enters through the deep ring, an opening that was already there. A direct hernia pushes through an area of the transversalis fascia that has weakened. Think of the inner tube of a tire, which can poke out through a hole in the tire or through a spot where the tire has worn thin.
In children, most of these hernias are attributed to the processus vaginalis, a pouch the testis leaves behind as it descends. If that pouch stays open, it becomes a path for tissue to push through. In adults, by contrast, most are considered acquired, meaning they are not present from birth.
In brief
An inguinal hernia is an opening in the musculofascial wall of the groin through which abdominal organs can protrude.
The inguinal canal runs between two rings, and hernias come in two types: indirect, through the deep ring, and direct, through a weakened area of the transversalis fascia.
An inner tube pokes through a hole or a worn spot in the tire.
In children, most are attributed to a patent processus vaginalis, the pouch the testis leaves as it descends; in adults, most are considered acquired.
Sources (3)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingInguinal Hernia, StatPearlsPublished
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineHernia, MedlinePlus Health TopicPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingOpen Inguinal Hernia Repair, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated