What is umbilical hernia?

The human body has many organs, and each organ has its important function. You should know that human organs cannot appear for no reason, from the human head and hands to the cells in the body. These human organs complement each other and can be used individually or work together. The lack of any organ in the body not only affects the appearance of the body, but also causes the loss of certain working ability and even health status.

Umbilical hernia is a disease on the belly button. Just saying this may mean that many people are not very clear about what umbilical hernia is. This disease usually develops during the embryonic period. To put it more clearly, it is the condition that everyone knows as the belly button turning outward.

Umbilical hernia is an extra-abdominal hernia in which the contents of the abdominal cavity protrude through a weak area at the umbilicus. The umbilicus is located in the middle of the abdominal wall and is the last part of the abdominal wall to close during embryonic development. The lack of fat tissue in the umbilicus causes the outermost skin, fascia and peritoneum of the abdominal wall to be directly connected together, making it the weakest part of the entire abdominal wall. The contents of the abdominal cavity can easily protrude from this part to form an umbilical hernia.

Causes

1. Umbilical hernia in infants

Commonly known as "gas belly button", it is congenital and one of the common diseases in newborns and infants. After the umbilical cord falls off, the umbilical scar area is a congenital weak spot in the abdominal wall because the umbilical cord passes through the abdominal wall during the fetal stage; in infancy, the abdominal muscles on both sides did not completely close in the midline, leaving a defect, which is medically called the umbilical ring. When crying too much, coughing, diarrhea, etc. cause the intra-abdominal pressure to increase, it will cause the abdominal contents, especially the small intestine, along with the peritoneum and abdominal wall skin to gradually push out from the navel, forming an umbilical hernia.

2. Umbilical hernia in adults

Less common. It may be related to the weakening of scar tissue at the umbilical ring. Causes include pregnancy, chronic cough, ascites, etc. The initial contents of the hernia are the greater omentum, followed by the small intestine, colon, etc. It is often due to extensive adhesion with the hernia sac wall, forming multi-locular spaces.

The belly button is a small part of the body. When a person is still in the mother's womb, it is a connection with the outside world and also a conveyor belt for absorbing nutrients. The belly button is located on the human stomach. If the belly button gets cold, people will easily catch a cold. Therefore, protecting the navel is also a disguised way to protect our health.