A hernia is the leakage of a viscera from the cavity that normally contains it, through an anatomical orifice or channel.
In inguinal hernia, the pedicle exits the abdomen through the external inguinal orifice above the crural arch. It is the most common of the abdominal hernias; in severe cases, it can degenerate into incarcerated hernia, when it gets stuck in the groin or scrotum and cannot be returned to the abdomen; this can lead to a strangulated hernia, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention.
