A medical condition where an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall. Most commonly occurs in the abdomen or groin area.
From Latin hernia meaning 'rupture, protruding viscera.' The word comes from an Indo-European root meaning 'to tear or split.' It entered medical English in the 14th century and has remained the standard term for this condition across medical traditions.
Hernias demonstrate how our bodies are essentially pressurized systems held together by muscular walls - when those walls develop weak spots, internal pressure pushes organs through like air through a balloon's weak point. The condition affects millions but remains one of those medical issues people often feel embarrassed to discuss.
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