A condition in which part of an internal organ projects abnormally through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it, especially the projection of the intestine from the abdominal cavity; a rupture: Hernias may be caused by failure of certain normal openings to close during development, weakness resulting from debilitating illness, old age, or injury, prolonged distention as from tumors, pregnancy, or corpulence, and increased intra-abdominal pressure resulting from lifting heavy loads or coughing.

A hernia may be present at birth, especially in the region of the navel, or caused by muscular strain or injury, or result from a congenital weakness in the cavity wall.

Treatment may include surgical or mechanical reduction. With very large hernias, mechanical devices or trusses may be used temporarily. A truss is a bandage consisting of a pad and belt; worn to hold a hernia in place by pressure.

A rupture in smooth muscle tissue protruding through a defect or weakened portion of the abdominal wall: An umbilical hernia is one type of abdominal hernia, or an abnormal protrusion of internal abdominal contents into a defect in the umbilical area which is common in a newborn child.

There are various hernias, as an "inguinal hernia", "umbilical hernia", or "spigelian hernia", in which an anatomical part, such as a section of the intestine, protrudes through an opening, tear, or weakness in the abdominal wall musculature which is a system or an arrangement of muscles in a body or a body part.

1. A hernia which protrudes behind the posterior layer of the femoral sheath.
2. A common type of groin hernia which occurs most often in obese females.

A condition present at birth where there is an abnormal protrusion of abdominal contents upward through a defect in the diaphragm: A diaphragmatic hernia is treated as a surgical emergency due to interference with the infant's breathing. Smaller, less serious diaphragmatic hernias may also be seen in adults.

The protrusion of a portion of the brain through a defect in the skull; encephalocele: A hernia of the brain is a rather rare condition in which brain tissue and the protective membranes bulge out through an opening of the skull.

A rare, congenital anomaly associated with a fissured chest: A hernia of the lungs describes the condition of a part of the lungs protruding through an opening, with the swelling enlarging with each expiration.

A device worn to prevent or to retard the herniation of the intestines or other organ through an opening in the abdominal wall: A hernia truss, or hernia belt, is a supportive belt that includes a pad designed to hold in, to prevent protuberance, or further expansion of a hernia.

The protrusion of the stomach up into the opening that is normally occupied by the esophagus in the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen.

A hiatal hernia can be congenital or it can be acquired through strenuous physical activity and it may contribute to gastroesophageal reflux disease with associated symptoms.

1. A hernia which results in the entrapment of tissue or viscera into the hernia sac.
2. A hernia in which the constriction can not be easily reduced.

1. Hernia in which a loop of intestine enters the inguinal canal; the most common type of hernia in males: An inguinal hernia is a common type of hernia in which a loop of the intestine protrudes directly through a weak area of the abdominal wall in the groin region.

An inguinal hernia is the abnormal passage of an internal abdominal organ or structure through the inguinal canal.

A protrusion of tissue through the greater sciatic notch: A sciatic hernia can develop in the greater sciatic foramen end, and create an uncomfortable mass in the gluteal region.

The sciatic notch consists of either of two notches on the dorsal border of the hipbone on each side that when closed off by ligaments form the corresponding sciatic foramina (opening).

It may be a relatively large notch just above the ischial spine that is converted into the greater sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous ligament called also greatersciatic notch or a smaller notch just below the ischial spine that is converted to the lesser sciatic foramen by the sacrospinous ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament; also called the "lesser sciatic notch".

A hernia that is found within the scrotum (external pouch that contains the testes): Jack was in hospital with a condition of a scrotal hernia, in which a thorough examination and photo had to be made directly before the operation took place.

A protrusion (outward bulging) of the abdominal lining, or a portion of abdominal organ(s), through the area around the navel (belly-button): Mary had a case of an umbilical hernia in which part of the intestine protruded through the abdominal wall beneath the skin in the area of the navel, and she had to have an operation right away.

Causes, occasions, and risk factors

An umbilical hernia in an infant is caused by the incomplete closure of the umbilical ring (muscle), through which the umbilical blood vessels passed to provide nourishment to the developing fetus.

• The hernia generally appears as a soft swelling beneath the skin that often protrudes when the infant is upright, crying, or straining.
• Depending on the severity of the hernia, the area of the defect can vary in size, from less than 1 to more than 5 centimeters in diameter.
• Small (less than 1 cm) hernias usually close spontaneously without treatment by age 3 to 4 years.
• Those that do not close may require surgery.
• Umbilical hernias are usually painless.
• Umbilical hernias are common in infants.
• The exact incidence is unknown, but may be as high as 1 in 6 infants.
• Umbilical hernias occur slightly more frequently in infants of African American descent.
• The vast majority of umbilical hernias are not related to any disease condition.
• A few umbilical hernias can be associated with rare diseases; such as, mucopolysaccharide storage diseases, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Down syndrome, and others.

A hernia of the urinary bladder: A vcondition of a vesical hernia was detected whenSusan went to the urologist's, and found out that this condition was caused by the protrusion of a segment of the bladder through the abdominal wall.