Types Of Hernia

Learn about different Types Of Hernia. Hernia is a medical condition in which the contents of one organ/ intestine protrude out of their cavity and into the vicinity of other organs, canals and cavities. Hernias usually result from the weakening of the muscle wall through which the lumps of content bulge through. The bulging content is contained in a thin membrane which is the weakened muscular wall. Although hernias do not show any symptoms most of the time and can only be felt, they can lead to potentially dangerous conditions. For when the contents bulge out, the opening of the bulge can cut off the blood flow causing medical emergency. There are many types of hernia but six are discussed below.

Inguinal Hernias

These types of hernia are usually apparent as a lump in the groin area (pubic area) or at the area where the thighs are joined to the trunk of the body. They appear when the tissue lump pushes through a weakened muscular wall of the groin (direct Inguinal Hernia). This type of inguinal hernia does not push into scrotum. Another type of inguinal hernia is when the tissues, which originally belong to the abdominal cavity, are pushed through an opening in the muscle wall (indirect inguinal hernia). This hernia pushes its way from the abdomen to the scrotum through the opening which should have closed at birth. These types of hernia require a surgical treatment in most cases.

Femoral Hernias

These types of hernia are mostly common in women and appear somewhere below the crease of the pubic area. These appear as a result childbirth. An intestinal lump bulges down into the femoral canal, which is from the lower belly to the upper part of the thigh, thus causing the hernia. Femoral Hernias are hard to detect but once detected, it is advisable to treat them instantly.

Umbilical Hernias

Umbilical hernia manifests itself as a protrusion from the bellybutton. These types of hernia are caused by intestinal or fluid protrusion from an opening in the umbilical cord (which should ordinarily have been closed) because of weakened blood vessels of the cord. Most of these hernias are known to subside by themselves; in converse situations, surgery is the solution. Much common in babies, these types of hernias are also found excessively in pregnant or overweight women.

Ventral/Incisional Hernias

These hernias usually develop after a surgery or an ‘incision’ in the belly. They appear at the site of the surgery and especially in people who are older, obese, on steroids or are misfortunate enough to have inflammation in the surgery wound that has been operated on repeatedly. Surgery basically weakens the abdominal walls and thus giving these types of hernia a chance to arise.

Epigastric Hernias

This type of hernia arises when excessive fat in the shape of fatty tissues bulges out from the weak muscular walls and appears as a lump in the upper abdomen or between the navel area and the lower rib cage. These types of hernia also need to be operated on most of the time.

Hiatal Hernias

Hiatal Hernia is very different from other types of hernia as it constitutes the abdomen protruding into the chest. Although the bulge cannot be felt, it is reported that the patient may feel some other symptoms such as heartburn. It is, nevertheless, a rather harmless sort of hernia.