Direct vs. Indirect Hernia

A hernia is when body tissue bulges or expands out of the usual area it’s supposed to be in. Many of us think of a hernia as something that happens only with the anus, but it can occur throughout the body. An inguinal hernia is intestinal protrusion through or past the muscles of the abdomen; though sometimes it might not be the intestine itself, but tissue near the intestine. While the condition in and of itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, it can become quite serious if the blood flow to the herniated tissue is obstructed. If blood cannot get to the protruding areas, the tissues will start to deteriorate, and can eventually become necrotic. At that point, it becomes a severe problem. Pain, major pain, can develop, and other symptoms such as vomiting can occur. Surgery is usually needed to correct it successfully. Most inguinal hernias occur because of abdominal muscle weaknesses. When the intestines press upon those muscles, it’s normally one of the jobs of the muscles to keep them in place. If the muscles are weak, or if they become separated from one another, the tissue can bulge out and soon it’s off to the surgeon to have it dealt with. Take care to stay in shape, and exercise caution when lifting heavy weights.

Key Points:

  • 1An inguinal hernia is where a portion of the body pushes out of place, usually through gaps in muscles or other tissues.
  • 2A direct inguinal hernia often occurs when abdominal muscles that aren’t as strong as they should be.
  • 3Overly exerting yourself during heavy lifting can lead to developing a hernia if care is not taken.


Inguinal hernias are not dangerous itself but can lead to significant complications especially if the intestinal tissue loses its blood supply.
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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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