Hernias

Abdominal hernia, the protrusion of some internal part of the body through the abdominal wall. Congenital hernia, one which develops in the fetus before birth and is present at birth. Diaphragmatic hernias, form in which part of an abdominal organs bulges upward through the diaphragm into the chest. Femoral hernia, one in the thigh, involving the femoral canal through which blood vessel emerge from the abdomen and course down the leg. Found more often in women;usually small and painless-often is not noticed. Inguinal hernia, hernia of the bowel into the inguinal canal near the groove where the thigh joins the abdomen. Umbilical hernia, protrusion of an internal structure at the navel; most common in infants.