HIATUS HERNIA OR HIATAL HERNIA IS A CONDITION WHERE THE UPPER PART OF

THE STOMACH PROTRUDES INTO THE CHEST CAVITY THROUGH AN OPENING

(HIATUS) IN THE DIAPHRAGM.
..
THE DIAPHRAGM ALSO PREVENTS THE ACID FROM THE STOMACH FROM
GETTING INTO THE ESOPHAGUS. WHEN HIATUS HERNIA OCCURS, AND THE
STOMACH PROTRUDES UPWARDS, THE ACID IS REFLEXED UP INTO THE
ESOPHAGUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN A PAINFUL BURNING SENSATION UNLIKE THE
OTHER HERNIAS WHICH OFTEN APPEAR WITHOUT SYMPTOMS. HIATUS HERNIA IS
FAIRLY COMMON AND OCCURS IN ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF PEOPLE.
THE DIAPHRAGM IS A SHEET OF MUSCLE THAT SEPARATES THE LUNGS OR
THE CHEST CAVITY FROM THE ABDOMEN. THE LEFT DIAPHRAGM CONTAINS
THE HIATUS IN CONCERN HERE (ESOPHAGEAL HIATUS) THROUGH WHICH
PASSES THE TUBE-SHAPED ESOPHAGUS THAT CARRIES FOOD AND LIQUID TO
THE STOMACH
• NORMALLY THIS HIATUS IS SMALL AND FITS SNUGLY AROUND THE ESOPHAGUS.
THE J-SHAPED STOMACH SITS BELOW THE DIAPHRAGM