Hernia: meaning, definitions and examples

This medical term is commonly used when discussing a specific condition where an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in muscles or surrounding tissue walls. It is often used in formal or clinical settings.

• The patient was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia.
• Surgery is often required to repair a hernia.

Rupture often carries a negative connotation, indicating a severe situation where something has broken apart or burst. It is used in both medical and non-medical settings.

• The patient suffered an abdominal rupture and needed immediate surgery.
• The dam's rupture caused severe flooding in the area.

Protrusion is typically used in both technical and clinical contexts to describe something that sticks out from a surface. It can be medical but also applies to objects and structures.

• The X-ray showed a protrusion of the bone.
• There was a protrusion in the metal surface that needed to be smoothed out.

Bulge is often used in both casual and technical contexts to describe a general swelling or protrusion, not necessarily related to a medical condition. It can refer to any noticeable bump or expansion.

• His pocket had a noticeable bulge where he kept his wallet.
• There was a bulge in the wall where the plaster had come loose.