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An inguinal
hernia is a protrusion of a piece of the intestine through an opening
in the abdominal wall.
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What Is an Inguinal Hernia?
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In an inguinal hernia, a loop of intestine pushes through an opening in the abdominal wall into the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal contains the spermatic cord, which consists of the vas deferens, blood vessels, nerves, and other structures. Before birth, the testes, which are formed in the abdomen, pass through the inguinal canal as they descend into the scrotum.
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An inguinal hernia extends into the groin, and can extend into the scrotum. The opening in the abdominal wall can be present from birth or develop later in life.
Inguinal hernias usually produce a painless bulge in the groin or scrotum. The bulge may enlarge when the man stands and shrink when he lies down because the intestine slides back and forth with gravity. Sometimes a portion of the intestine is trapped in the scrotum (incarceration); this can cut off the intestine's blood supply (strangulation). Strangulated intestines may die (become gangrenous) within hours.
Surgical repair may relieve the symptoms of a hernia, depending on its size and the amount of discomfort it causes. For strangulated hernias, emergency surgery is needed to pull the intestine out of the inguinal canal and tighten the opening so the hernia cannot recur.
Last full review/revision February 2003
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