hernio-, herni- +
(Latin: protruded viscus; rupture; in the sense of "protrusion of tissue or part of an organ through an abnormal opening in the surrounding walls")
This condition 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.
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.
It 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.
2. A supporting device that includes a pad designed to hold in, to prevent protuberance, or further expansion of a hernia.
2. A reference to a hernia.
2. Protruding like a hernia.
3. Enclosed in a hernia.
2. An intervertebral disk (between two adjacent vertebrae) in which the nucleus pulposus has protruded through the surrounding fibrocartilage, occurring most frequently in the lower lumbar region, and less commonly in the cervical region.
Mild to severe symptoms may result from pressure on spinal nerves; also known as, "a ruptured intervertebral disk", or "a slipped disk" (the action of the nuclear tissue when it is forced from the center of the disc).
The center of the disc, which is called the nucleus, is soft, springy, and receives the shock of standing, walking, running, etc.
The outer ring of the disc, which is called the annulus (Latin for "ring"), provides structure and strength to the disc. The annulus consists of a complex series of interwoven layers of fibrous tissue that hold the nucleus in place.
When the disc has herniated, or ruptured, it may create pressure against one or more of the spinal nerves which can cause pain, weakness, or numbness in the neck and arm. Other names for herniated discs are "prolapsed discs" and "ruptured discs".
2. The formation of a hernia; a rupture.
A cross reference of other word family units that are related directly, indirectly, or partially with: "opening, hole, cavity, tract, tube": alveolo-; antro-; anu-; celo-; coelio-; concho-; fenestra-; hiat-; meato-; ora-; parieto-; poro-; pyl-, pyle-; pylor-; sphinctero-; splanchn-; stomato-; syringo-; uretero-; urethro-; vagino-; ventricul-.