title: Abdominal wall anatomy: the key to a successful inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: Over the past century, there has been a significant increase in the understanding of abdominal wall anatomy as it relates to inguinal and ventral hernia repairs. Since the initial reports of successful primary inguinal herniorrhaphy, recurrence rates have dramatically decreased because of the improved understanding of the pathologic defect. This article will review the important nomenclature of the groin region, briefly review the bony and tissue anatomy of the groin, and describe the anatomic hole from which the pathologic hole (hernia) originates.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Operative Care Line, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, VA 112, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. shawnp.fagan@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Shawn P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: Samir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012008:Recurrence; D009626:Terminology as Topic