Inguinal Hernia

Making up 75% of all abdominal-wall hernias and occurring up to 25 times more often in men that women. These hernias are divided into two different types, direct and indirect. Both occur in the groin area, but they have slightly different origins. Both of these types of hernias can similarly appear as a bulge in the inguinal area. The two types of inguinal hernia, direct and indirect, are defined by their relationship to the inferior epigastric vessels.

Direct inguinal hernias occur medial to the inferior epigastric vessels when abdominal contents herniate through a week spot in the fascia of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal, which is formed by the transversalis fascia. the direct inguinal hernia occurs slightly to the inside of the site of the indirect hernia, in an area where the abdominal wall is naturally slightly thinner. Unlike the indirect hernia, which can occur at any age, the direct hernia tends to occur in the middle-aged and elderly because their abdominal walls weaken as they age.

The inguinal triangle is a region of the abdominal wall. It is defined by the following structures: Lateral margin of the rectus abdominal sheath, Inferior epigastric vessels and inguinal ligament. The inguinal triangle contains a depression referred to as the medial inguinal fossa, through which direct inguinal hernias protrude through the abdominal wall.