What are the causes of inguinal hernias?
The inguinal canal represents a natural point of weakness for the abdominal wall. This affects males more often than it does females. As a result inguinal hernias are diagnosed in male patients much more frequently. In addition every man exhibits a protuberance of the peritoneum into the inguinal canal ultimately stretching as far as the testicles, before he is even born. This protuberance deteriorates in its entirety shortly before birth. This deterioration, however, is not always completed before birth and eventually forms into the hernial sac of the inguinal hernia. Other types of inguinal hernia emerge from increased pressures in the abdominal cavity, as a result of, for example, chronic coughing, frequent pressing or other strenuous physical activities. By which symptoms is the inguinal hernia best characterised? The most common symptom is a swelling of the abdominal skin, which occurs quite suddenly, most of the time without any pain, located next to the protuberance of the pubic
