Different types of hernias | Dr. Rengan’s Surgical Centre

Hernias are one of the most common types of surgical problems faced by adults. There are many different types of hernias, each with their own characteristics. So, what exactly is a hernia? What are the different types?

Imagining a hernia

To start with, let us try to imagine our body as a bunch of organs and tissue held in place by muscles, and further covered by skin. The bones provide the framework for all this. In hernia formation, the muscles, organs, and tissues are most involved. Most organs and tissues in our body are almost free-floating with minimal attachments to each other or other systems.

So what prevents them from being visible as lumpy messes underneath our skin? The simple answer is that our muscles act as firm sheets holding them back, and providing not just a firm structural barrier, but also a protective one.

Sometimes, weakness occurs between muscles or within the muscle itself. This sort of acts as an “escape route” or a weakness through which the internal organs or tissues can now bulge out.

What causes this muscle weakness?

It can be anything- old age, excess strain, site of scarring, genetics, and some people may even be born with muscle weakness.

This bulge is often seen as a lump under the skin and is called a hernia. It gets prominent when the muscle is strained (the muscle fibers stretch back to make the weakness bigger, allowing more “escape room”). Most people don’t suddenly notice a hernia, although it can be surprising. In the initial stages, the hernia is only noticeable during muscle strain, although then gradually progresses to being a permanent presence. It is usually then medical support is obtained.

Originally published at https://surgeonrengan.com