Groin Hernia
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
IMAGING
General Features
Inguinal canal
Femoral canal
Indirect inguinal hernia
Direct inguinal hernia
Femoral hernia
Double hernia (a.k.a. saddlebag hernia)
Ultrasonographic Findings
. Note that the neck of a direct inguinal hernia is medial to the inferior epigastric vessels 
. A direct inguinal hernia passes through the transversalis fascial defect in the Hesselbach triangle.
containing hypoechoic mesenteric fat. The neck 
of the hernia lies medial to the inferior epigastric vessels 
.
containing bowel 
. The neck 
of the hernia is wide and lies medial to the inferior epigastric vessels 
. Obstruction is rare in direct inguinal hernias, as they usually have a wide neck.
that arises cephalad to the inguinal ligament 
. The inguinal ligament is difficult to appreciate on still images but is more readily appreciable in real time.
