hernia

[ hur-nee-uh ]
/ ˈhɜr ni ə /

noun, plural her·ni·as, her·ni·ae [hur-nee-ee] /ˈhɜr niˌi/. Pathology.

the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region.
Compare hiatus hernia, strangulated hernia.

Origin of hernia

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: a rupture; akin to hīra gut; see haruspex

OTHER WORDS FROM hernia

her·ni·al, adjective

Words nearby hernia

hermosillo, hermoupolis, hern, herndon, herne, hernia, hernial sac, herniate, herniated, herniated disk, hernio-

Example sentences from the Web for hernial

British Dictionary definitions for hernial

hernia
/ (ˈhɜːnɪə) /

noun plural -nias or -niae (-nɪˌiː)

the projection of an organ or part through the lining of the cavity in which it is normally situated, esp the protrusion of intestine through the front wall of the abdominal cavity. It is caused by muscular strain, injury, etc Also called: rupture

Derived forms of hernia

hernial, adjective herniated, adjective

Word Origin for hernia

C14: from Latin

Medical definitions for hernial

hernia
[ hûr′nē-ə ]

n. pl. her•ni•as

The protrusion of an organ or other bodily structure through the wall that normally contains it.

Other words from hernia

her′ni•al adj.

Scientific definitions for hernial

hernia
[ hûr′nē-ə ]

A condition in which an organ or body part, such as the intestine, protrudes through an opening in the body structure that normally contains it.

Cultural definitions for hernial

hernia
[ (hur-nee-uh) ]

The projection of an organ or part of an organ through the wall of the structure that surrounds it. Most often, the term is applied to the protrusion of a part of the intestine that can be observed as a lump in the lower abdomen.