A hiatus hernia, also known as hiatal hernia, is a medical condition characterized by the protrusion of a portion of the stomach through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. This occurs when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the diaphragm's opening called the hiatus.
There are several synonyms used to refer to hiatus hernia:
- Hiatal hernia: This is the most commonly used synonym for hiatus hernia. It emphasizes the location of the hernia at the hiatus, which is the opening in the diaphragm.
- Diaphragmatic hernia: This term is sometimes used interchangeably with hiatus hernia. It highlights the involvement of the diaphragm in the herniation process.
- Hiatus diaphragmatic hernia: This synonym combines both "hiatus" and "diaphragmatic" to describe the condition.
- Esophageal hernia: This term specifically refers to a type of hiatus hernia where the upper part of the stomach and the lower part of the esophagus protrude into the chest cavity.
- Paraesophageal hernia: This synonym is used to describe a type of hiatus hernia where a portion of the stomach squeezes through the hiatus alongside the esophagus.
It is important to note that while these terms are used interchangeably, they all refer to the same medical condition: the protrusion of the stomach through the diaphragm's opening.