Indirect inguinal hernia

Indirect hernias result from two anatomic defects: weakening of the fascia of the transversalis muscle fibers at the internal abdominal ring, and the potential space resulting from the a persistently patent processus vaginalis. In males, the obliteration of the processus vaginalis occurs during the first two years of life, but as many as 40 percent remain patent, 20 percent of which will later develop into inguinal hernias. The female counterpart of the processus vaginalis commonly disappears by eight months of gestation, although patency may persist into childhood. If patency persists, the patent processus is termed the canal of Nuck.