Hernias Flashcards
What is a hernia?
Protrusion of part of the abdominal contents beyond the normal confines of the abdominal wall
What do reducible, incarcerated and strangulated mean in terms of hernia?
Reducible- can be pushed back in
Incarcerated- stuck or irreducible
Strangulated - disrupted blood supply, leads to necrosis
What are common causes of hernias?
Congenital defects (remaining processus vaginalis) Post surgery (incisional hernia) Weightlifting Obesity Pregnancy
What are common sites of herniation?
Inguinal canal
Femoral canal
Umbilicus
Previous incisions
What structures make up the floor, roof, anterior border and posterior wall of the inguinal canal?
Floor - inguinal ligament
Roof - internal oblique/transverse abdominus
Anterior wall - aponeurosis of external oblique
Posterior wall - transversalis fascia
What is the route of an indirect inguinal hernia?
Passes through deep inguinal ring lateral to epigastric vessels and out of the superficial inguinal ring
What is the route of a direct inguinal hernia?
Bulges through hesselbachs triangle and the superficial inguinal ring, but never actually enters the inguinal canal. Occurs medial to epigastric vessels
What are the anatomical landmarks of Hesselbachs triangle?
Medial border - lateral aspect of rectus abdominis
Lateral border - inferior epigastric vessels
Inferior border - inguinal ligament
Where does a femoral hernia occur?
Through the femoral canal and out of the saphenous opening. More common in women
What is gastroschisis?
Abdominal viscera protrude out of a hole near the belly button in the neonate and are exposed to air. There is no peritoneal covering.
What is omphalocele?
Failure of the midgut to return to the abdomen during development. Remains within/protrudes into the umbilical cord. Viscera covered in peritoneum
