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May 23, 2013


Hernia Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Hernia article.

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

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Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

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Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

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Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

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Asymptomatic: Without symptoms. For example, an asymptomatic infection is an infection wit...

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Bowel: The small and large intestine.

Bruise: Injury of the soft tissues that results in breakage of the local capillaries and l...

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Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

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Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

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Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

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Elective: In medicine, something chosen (elected). An elective procedure is one that is ch...

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Elective surgery: Surgery that is subject to choice (election). The choice may be made by ...

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Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

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Fascia: A flat band of tissue below the skin that covers underlying tissues and separates ...

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Femoral: Having to do with the femur.

Femoral artery: The continuation of the external iliac artery after it passes under the in...

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Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

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Foramen: A natural opening. Although a foramen is usually through bone, it can be an openi...

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Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Hematoma: A localized swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in the wall of ...

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Hernia: A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavit...

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Hernia repair: Also called a herniorrhaphy, a surgical repair of a hernia. Hernia repair m...

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Hydrocele: Accumulation of fluid in the coat around the testis. Small hydroceles tend to d...

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Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

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Inguinal: Having to do with the groin.

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

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Intestine: The long, tubelike organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion...

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Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

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Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

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Navel: The umbilicus, the former site of attachment of the umbilical cord, usually found i...

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Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

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Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

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Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

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Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

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Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

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Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower part of the abdomen, located between the h...

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Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

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Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

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Rectus: Usually refers to the rectus abdominis, a large muscle in the front of the abdomen...

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Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. The reappearance ...

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Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

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Rib: One of the 12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wal...

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Rib cage: The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone...

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Scrotum: The pouch of skin that contains the testes, epididymides, and lower portions of t...

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Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

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Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

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Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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Testicles: The testicles (also called testes or gonads) are the male sex glands. They are ...

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Thigh: The thick, muscular portion of the leg that extends from the hip to the knee. The t...

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Umbilicus: The vestige left behind on a newborn's belly when the umbilical cord is cut. A...

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Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

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Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

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