Q4. What is an inguinal hernia? : A guide to Hernias

A4. This is where a protrusion of tissue or internal organ such as the lower intestine pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall into the groin.

This occurs due to the presence of a potential weak spot in the abdominal wall called the ‘inguinal canal’. This canal is where blood vessels pass through as well as being a passageway for the testes to descend during development.

For this reason, inguinal hernias occur more in men than women.