Indirect inguinal hernia: anatomical aspects

An indirect inguinal hernia is the most common cause of groin hernia. It happens when the contents of the abdominal cavity protrude through the abdominal wall. It is caused by a failure during foetal development of a passage to close after the testicle has descended through it. The condition also happens to women, though less commonly.

This instructional film for surgeons, made by Eastman Medical Films in 1929, begins with an animation explaining how the evolution of an upright posture in humans has resulted in increased pressure on the lower abdomen, the cause of such hernias. 'To understand the subject of hernia, a through knowledge of the anatomy of the inguinal region is essential', an intertitle asserts. The film then begins a detailed dissection of the inguinal region, examining tissue, muscles and ligaments, superimposing labels on important features.