hernia

American  

[hur-nee-uh] / ˈhɜr ni ə /

noun

Pathology.

plural

hernias, herniae

1. the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region.

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hernia British  

/ ˈhɜːnɪə /

noun

1. Also called: rupture.  the projection of an organ or part through the lining of the cavity in which it is normally situated, esp the protrusion of intestine through the front wall of the abdominal cavity. It is caused by muscular strain, injury, etc

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hernia Scientific  

/ hûr′nē-ə /

1. A condition in which an organ or body part, such as the intestine, protrudes through an opening in the body structure that normally contains it.

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hernia Cultural  

1. The projection of an organ or part of an organ through the wall of the structure that surrounds it. Most often, the term is applied to the protrusion of a part of the intestine that can be observed as a lump in the lower abdomen.

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Other Word Forms

• hernial
  adjective
• herniated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hernia

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “a rupture”; akin to hīra “gut”; see haruspex ( def. )

Explanation

A hernia is a rip in your muscle tissue that leads to an organ protruding through the muscle. It's painful and dangerous. Your organs all have a place in your body. However, sometimes an injury causes a rip in your soft muscle tissue, pushing an organ out of its home. This injury is a hernia, which often involves the abdomen bursting through the surrounding tissue. Sometimes people get a hernia after trying to lift something too heavy. A hernia can also involve a spinal disc that gets pushed out of place. Any type of hernia is a very serious medical condition.

Example Sentences

The immediate first phase of recovery should take about a week, according to Prof. Giampiero Campanelli, director of the Hernia Center, a clinic in Milan, and editor in chief of the medical journal Hernia.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2023

He is currently considering the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia, which specializes in hernia surgeries under the direction of Dr. William Meyers, or the Pacific Coast Hernia Center and Dr. William Hutchinson.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 26, 2022

Hernia, goitre and the flowering boil Lie bare beneath his hands, for ever bare.

From The Guardian • Sep. 26, 2020

Hernia mesh Complications "affect up to 170,000 people"

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2018

Hernia was Chauliac's specialty, and in it his surgical judgment is admirable.

From Old-Time Makers of Medicine The Story of The Students And Teachers of the Sciences Related to Medicine During the Middle Ages by Walsh, James Joseph

Related Words

• breach
• fissure
• fracture
• schism