Main Entry: her·nia

Pronunciation: \ˈhər-nē-ə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural her·ni·as or her·ni·ae \-nē-ˌē, -nē-ˌī\

: a protrusion of an organ or part through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity in which it is normally enclosed—called also rupture; see abdominal hernia, hiatal hernia, strangulated hernia

—her·ni·al \-nē-əl\ adjective