K46.9: Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene

The abdominal cavity is bound at the front by the abdominal wall and at the rear by the back. Up toward the head, the abdominal cavity is separated from the ribcage by the diaphragm. Below, the abdominal cavity is separated from the pelvis by muscles and connective tissue.

The abdominal wall and back are made up of various layers. From the outermost to the innermost, the layers are: the skin, the fatty tissue, the muscles and various connective tissue layers. These keep the abdominal cavity tight, so that the organs remain in the abdomen even at high pressure.

There are some natural weak points in the boundary of the abdominal cavity. If these weak points become even weaker, the intestines can then protrude outward through the diaphragm or into the pelvis. In your case, the intestines have protruded through one of these weak points. This is also called a hernia. The intestines protrude through the weak points if the pressure in the abdomen is very high. That may occur for instance during coughing or squeezing. Pressure in the abdomen also increases with heavy lifting.

If the weak point is especially small, the intestines may jam in the gap. The blood supply may then be cut off. In that case, the intestines are no longer properly supplied with blood and can thus be damaged. If this condition lasts too long, the intestines may necrotize. But the hernia will also often cause no symptoms.