What causes a diaphragmatic hernia?
As a fetus is growing in its mother’s uterus before birth, different organ systems are developing and maturing. The diaphragm forms between the 7th and 10th week of pregnancy. The esophagus (the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach), the stomach, and the intestines are also developing at this time. In a Bochdalek hernia, the diaphragm may not develop properly, or the intestine may become trapped in the chest cavity as the diaphragm is forming. In a Morgagni hernia, the tendon that should develop in the middle of the diaphragm does not develop properly. In both cases, normal development of the diaphragm and the digestive tract does not occur. Diaphragmatic hernia is a multifactorial condition, which means that “many factors,” both genetic and environmental, are involved. It is thought that multiple genes from both parents, as well as a number of environmental factors that scientists do not yet fully understand, contribute to diaphragmatic hernia. In cases where it is the only
