- An opening in the passage from the abdomen to the genitals (called the inguinal canal) that should close before birth but does not.
- Abdominal muscles that are weakened by aging and the daily wear and tear of life.
Conditions that increase pressure within the abdominal cavity, such as frequent coughing or being overweight, may contribute to the development of hernias.
Recommended Related to Digestive Disorders
Splenectomy
A splenectomy is surgery to remove the entire spleen, a delicate, fist-sized organ that sits under the left rib cage near the stomach. The spleen is an important part of the body's defense (immune) system. It contains special white blood cells that destroy bacteria and help the body fight infections when you are sick. It also makes red blood cells and helps remove, or filter, old ones from the body's circulation.If only part of the spleen is removed, the procedure is called a partial splenectomy...
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A femoral hernia, sometimes mistaken for an inguinal hernia, occurs when tissue bulges from the lower abdomen into the upper thigh, just below the groin crease. The cause of a femoral hernia is often difficult to determine.
If you do not have an inguinal hernia, you may have one of the other common types of hernia. These include incisional, epigastric, and umbilical hernias in children and adults.