herniation

[ hur-nee-ey-shuhn ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. an abnormal condition or process in which an organ or other tissue protrudes through an opening, as in the organ’s surrounding walls or some other narrow space:

   Acupuncture is often effective for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniations.

   In a fetus, herniation of the liver above the diaphragm is cause for concern.

Word History and Origins

Origin of herniation¹

First recorded in 1875–80; hernia ( def ) + -tion ( def )

Example Sentences

He missed the start of the season after undergoing microdiscectomy for a lumbar disc herniation.

From Washington Times

Although a disk herniation definitely can be a possible cause of pain irradiating in the leg, it is only rarely a cause of local back pain.

From Scientific American

Oe is best known for this 1964 semi-autobiographical novel, a dark comedy about a callow young academic who decides to leave his wife after their baby is born with a brain herniation.

From Washington Post

Many of his books examined the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, when he was 10, and his relationship with his developmentally disabled son Hikari, who was born in 1963 with a brain herniation.

From Washington Post

In the book, a young man has wrecked his chances of a solid academic career by going on a stupendous drinking binge, and now he has a baby with a diagnosis of brain herniation.

From New York Times

Related Words

• breach
• fissure
• fracture
• hernia
• schism