her·ni·a (hûr'nē-ə) n.
pl.her·ni·as or her·ni·ae (-nē-ē') The protrusion of an organ or other bodily structure through the wall that normally contains it; a rupture.
[Middle English, from Latin; see gherə- in Indo-European roots.] her'ni·al adj.
The projection of an organ or part of an organ through the wall of the structure that surrounds it. Most often, the term is applied to the protrusion of a part of the intestine that can be observed as a lump in the lower abdomen.
Main Entry: her·nia Pronunciation: 'h&r-nE-& Function: noun Inflected Form: pluralher·ni·asorher·ni·ae/-nE-"E, -nE-"I/ : a protrusion of an organ or part through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity in which it is normally enclosedcalled also rupture —her·ni·al/-nE-&l/adjective