Generality
The epigastric hernia consists in the leakage of a bowel contained in the epigastrium. The epigastrium, or epigastric region, is one of the nine anatomical sections into which the abdomen can be divided; in particular, the epigastrium is located in the center and at the highest point of the abdominal region.
Caused by a collapse of the epigastric muscle wall, epigastric hernias are generally asymptomatic; only in rare cases, in fact, cause pain or lead to complications.
For a correct diagnosis, a physical examination alone is almost always sufficient, during which the doctor carefully examines the patient.
In the absence of severe symptoms or complications, epigastric hernia does not require any specific treatment; otherwise, doctors must intervene surgically.
So "is a" hernia
A "hernia" is the leakage of a bowel and / or adjacent tissues (for example the surrounding adipose tissues) from the body cavity that normally contains them (N.B: the word bowel indicates a generic internal organ).
The spill can be total or partial.
What is epigastric hernia?
An "epigastric hernia" is the leakage of a bowel normally contained within the epigastrium.
In anatomy, the term epigastrium (or epigastric region) identifies the highest and central area of the abdomen, bounded above by the costal cartilages and below by the umbilical region.
The internal organs, including in the epigastric region, are:
- The pylorus. It is the terminal part of the stomach, responsible for regulating the introduction of gastric contents into the small intestine (ie the first part of the intestine). A valve, known as the pyloric sphincter, ensures an accurate passage of food between the stomach and intestines.
- The duodenum. It is the first part of the "small intestine; the latter" also includes the jejunum and the ileum.
- Pancreas
- Part of the liver
- Part of the aorta
- Part of the inferior vena cava
- Transverse colon. It is the third section of the large intestine (or large intestine); it follows the cecum and the ascending colon, while it precedes the descending colon, the sigma and the rectum. The transverse colon is also the uppermost part of the large intestine.
The formation of an "epigastric hernia can involve one of the aforementioned organs, but also tissues of various kinds (adipose in particular) that reside in the same anatomical region.
