Types of Hernia

• Inguinal Hernia
• Umbilical Hernia
• Epigastric Hernia
• Incisional Hernia
• Hiatus Hernia

Inguinal Hernia

An inguinal hernia occurs when a small portion of the bowel bulges out through the inguinal canal-a passage or opening through the muscles of the abdominal (belly) wall-into the groin. The bulge usually contains tissue lining the inside of the abdomen as well as fatty tissue from inside the abdomen. Or it may contain a loop of intestine.

There are two types of inguinal hernias:

• Direct inguinal hernias occur when a weak spot develops in the lower belly muscles. Often the cause of the hernia is not known. But lifting, straining, or coughing or being obese, pregnant, or constipated are often thought to be causes of hernias.

• Indirect inguinal hernias occur when the inguinal canal fails to close before birth. The hernia may appear in a male's scrotum or in the fold of skin at the opening of a female's vagina. This is the most common type of inguinal hernia. And it may occur at birth or later in life. Indirect hernias are more common in males.

Umbilical Hernia

The umbilical cord connects a mother and her fetus while in the womb. Babies’ umbilical cords pass through a small opening between their abdominal wall muscles. In most cases, the hole closes soon after birth. An umbilical hernia occurs when the abdominal wall layers don’t join completely, and the intestine or other tissues from inside the abdominal cavity bulge through the weak spot around the belly button. About 20 percent of babies are born with an umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias are generally painless and don’t cause any discomfort.

Epigastric Hernia

A hernia is a generic term for a hole caused by a weak spot in your abdominal wall. An epigastric hernia is a type of hernia in the epigastric region of the abdominal wall. It’s above the belly button and just below the sternum of your rib cage. This type of hernia is a somewhat common condition in both adults and children.

Symptoms of an epigastric hernia

An epigastric hernia usually causes a bump to occur in the area below your sternum, or breastbone, and above your belly button. This bump is caused by a mass of fat that has pushed through the hernia.
The raised area may be visible all the time or only when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. This bump, or mass, can grow and become larger in some cases. You can have more than one epigastric hernia at a time.
An epigastric hernia can also cause tenderness and pain in the epigastric region. However, it’s common for an epigastric hernia not to show any symptoms.

Incisional Hernia

An incisional hernia happens when a weakness in the muscle of the abdomen allows the tissues of the abdomen to protrude through the muscle. The hernia appears as a bulge under the skin and can be painful or tender to the touch.
In the case of an incisional hernia, the weakness in the muscle is caused by the incision made in a prior abdominal surgery. To paint a clearer picture: during surgery, an incision is made in the muscles that make up the abdomen. For some reason, that muscle doesn't heal, so a gap opens up as the muscles tighten and release during activities. Instead of a flat, strong piece of muscle, you have a piece of muscle that has a small gap in it.
After a while, the tissues underneath realize there is an escape route through the muscle and they start to poke through the opening, to the point where they can be felt under the skin. An incisional hernia is typically small enough that only the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, pushes through. In severe cases portions of organs may move through the hole in the muscle, but this is much less common

Hiatus Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm and into your chest region. The diaphragm is a large muscle that lies between your abdomen and chest. You use this muscle to help you breathe. Normally, your stomach is below the diaphragm, but in people with a hiatal hernia, a portion of the stomach pushes up through the muscle. The opening it moves through is called a hiatus.

Symptoms of a hiatal hernia

It’s rare for even fixed hiatal hernias to cause symptoms. If you do experience any symptoms, they’re usually caused by stomach acid, bile, or air entering your esophagus. Common symptoms include:

• heartburn that gets worse when you lean over or lie down
• chest pain or epigastric pain
• trouble swallowing
• belching