A hernia happens when there’s a weakness or opening in the abdominal wall that allows soft tissues or organs to stick out through the layer of muscle. The hernia is often visible under the skin, however, this is not always the case.
Hernias are commonly split into several categories.
- Hiatal hernias are caused by the upper portion of the stomach pushing through the diaphragm.
- Inguinal, sometimes called Femoral, is the most common type of hernia. These hernias happen when the intestine or bladder pushes through the core of the inguinal canal of the groin.
- Ventral hernias are less common than inguinal hernias. There are several subcategories of ventral hernias, including:
- Epigastric – a weak area or hole that develops above the belly button near the bottom of the rib cage.
- Incisional – intestine pushes through the abdomen wall using a weak spot caused by prior surgery or cuts in the muscle.
- Parastomal – a hernia that occurs near an Ostomy (an opening through which waste leaves the body).
- Umbilical – when an intestine pushes through the abdomen at the belly button.
