Internal hernia
Encyclopedia
Internal hernias occur when there is protrusion of a viscus into a retroperitoneal fossa or a foramen
(congenital or acquired) in the abdominal cavity
. If a loop of bowel passes through the mesenteric defect, that loop is at risk for incarceration, strangulation, or for becoming the lead point of a small bowel obstruction. Internal hernias can also trap adipose tissue
(fat) and nerves. Unlike more common forms of hernias, the trapped tissue protrudes inward, rather than outward.
Mesenteric defects commonly occur in trauma, such as gunshot wounds to the abdomen, and they are intentionally created in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. In trauma victims, the defect is usually closed, sometimes with resection of the associated bowel, which may have lost its blood supply.
Internal hernias are difficult to identify in women, and misdiagnosis with endometriosis
or idiopathic chronic pelvic pain is very common. One cause of misdiagnosis that when the woman lies down flat on an examination table, all of the medical sign
s of the hernia disappear. The hernia can typically only be detected when symptoms are present, so diagnosis requires positioning the woman's body in a way that provokes symptoms.
Both internal hernias and umbilical hernia
s are more common in women than men.
Foramen
In anatomy, a foramen is any opening. Foramina inside the body of humans and other animals typically allow muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, or other structures to connect one part of the body with another.-Skull:...
(congenital or acquired) in the abdominal cavity
Abdominal cavity
The abdominal cavity is the body cavity of the human body that holds the bulk of the viscera. It is located below the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. Its dome-shaped roof is the thoracic diaphragm , and its oblique floor is the pelvic inlet...
. If a loop of bowel passes through the mesenteric defect, that loop is at risk for incarceration, strangulation, or for becoming the lead point of a small bowel obstruction. Internal hernias can also trap adipose tissue
Adipose tissue
In histology, adipose tissue or body fat or fat depot or just fat is loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. It is technically composed of roughly only 80% fat; fat in its solitary state exists in the liver and muscles. Adipose tissue is derived from lipoblasts...
(fat) and nerves. Unlike more common forms of hernias, the trapped tissue protrudes inward, rather than outward.
Mesenteric defects commonly occur in trauma, such as gunshot wounds to the abdomen, and they are intentionally created in the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. In trauma victims, the defect is usually closed, sometimes with resection of the associated bowel, which may have lost its blood supply.
Internal hernias are difficult to identify in women, and misdiagnosis with endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
or idiopathic chronic pelvic pain is very common. One cause of misdiagnosis that when the woman lies down flat on an examination table, all of the medical sign
Medical sign
A medical sign is an objective indication of some medical fact or characteristic that may be detected by a physician during a physical examination of a patient....
s of the hernia disappear. The hernia can typically only be detected when symptoms are present, so diagnosis requires positioning the woman's body in a way that provokes symptoms.
Both internal hernias and umbilical hernia
Umbilical hernia
Congenital umbilical hernia is a congenital malformation, common in infants of African descent. Among adults, it is three times more common in women than in men; among children, the ratio is roughly equal...
s are more common in women than men.