Hernia is a noticeable lump that commonly appears in the groin area, it occurs when a portion of the tissue which lines the abdominal cavity breaks through a weakened area of the abdominal wall. Hernias are usually classified according to the area through which the protruding occurs.

Types of Hernia:

• Inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia, it occurs in the abdominal wall in the groin or the inguinal region. Inguinal hernia is more likely to occur in males than in females because each sperm-carrying duct passes from a testis through a small opening in the abdominal wall and this type of opening is naturally weakened spot at which a hernia is likely to develop. This hernia is divided into two different typed; direct and indirect, both occur in the groin area, but they have a slightly different origins.
  1. Indirect inguinal hernia - follows the pathway in which the testicles were made during prebirth development. It goes down from the abdomen into the scrotum. This pathway normally closes before birth but may remain a possible place for a hernia. Sometimes the hernia sac may protrude into the scrotum. Indirect inguinal hernia may occur at any age.
  2. Direct inguinal hernia - occurs slightly to the inside of the site of the indirect hernia, in a place where the abdominal wall is slightly thinner. It rarely will protrude into the scrotum. Unlike the indirect hernia, which can occur at any age, the direct hernia usually occurs in the middle-aged and elderly because their abdominal walls weaken as they age.

• Diaphragmatic hernia is one in which part of the stomach herniates (protrudes) upward through a hole in the diaphragm into the lower portion of the chest cavity. Normally, the esophagus passes down through the chest and enters the abdominal cavity through a hole or hiatus, in the diaphragm. This hole is another potentially weak spot and sometimes, if the diaphragm becomes stretched, the hole enlarges, allowing some of the stomach to herniate upward through it.
• Umbilical hernia is one in which the small intestine protrudes through the abdominal wall at the navel, another naturally weak site in the abdominal wall.

Causes:

• Congenital weakness of a cavity wall or by an incomplete closure of a passage that should have closed during fetal development.
• Formation of scar tissue can cause weakened cavity, an example of this type of hernia is one that develops in an abdominal scar following surgery. Such hernias are often known as incisional hernias.
• Often a hernia develops in a naturally weak area after unusual stress or strain such as; lifting heavy objects, severe coughing, severe sneezing and straining during a bowel movement or urination
• Obesity. Diaphragmatic hernias are more likely to occur in the elderly especially those who are obese. In these people the increased pressure on the diaphragm stretches the opening through which the esophagus passes.
• Disease of the lung and fluid in the abdominal cavity
• Accidents

Continuation -> Symptoms and Treatments for Hernia