Oesophagus :Small hiatus hernia

Oesophagus : Small hiatus hernia

Oesophagus : The oesophagus is a long, muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. It's around 25cm (10in) long in adults. When you swallow food, the walls of the oesophagus squeeze together (contract). This moves the food down the oesophagus to the stomach.



Small :

smɔːl/

adjective

adjective: small;

comparative adjective: smaller;

superlative adjective: smallest

1. 1.

   of a size that is less than normal or usual.

   "the room was small and quiet"

   synonyms:

   little, small-scale, compact, bijou; More portable; tiny, miniature, mini, minute, microscopic, nanoscopic, minuscule; toy, baby; poky, cramped, boxy; wee; informaltiddly, teeny, weeny, teeny-weeny, teensy, teensy-weensy, itsy-bitsy, itty-bitty, eensy, eensy-weensy, pocket-sized, half-pint, dinky, ickle, with no room to swing a cat; informaltitchy; informallittle-bitty, vest-pocket "a small flat in Fulham"       short, little, slight, slightly built, small-boned, petite, diminutive, elfin, tiny; puny, undersized, stunted; squat, stubby; dwarf, bantam; a slip of a …; wee; informalteeny, teeny-weeny, pint-sized; rarehomuncular, Lilliputian "he was a very small man" inadequate, meagre, insufficient, ungenerous, not enough; informalmeasly, stingy, mingy, pathetic "small helpings of vegetables"

   antonyms:

   big, large, heavily built, tall, generous, ample

   • not great in amount, number, strength, or power.

     "a rather small amount of money"
   • not fully grown or developed; young.

     "as a small boy, he spent his days either reading or watching cricket"
   • (of a voice) lacking strength and confidence.

     "‘I'm scared,’ she said in a small voice"
   • used of the first letter of a word that has both a general and a specific use to show that in this case the general use is intended.

     "they are diehard conservatives, with a small c"
2. 2.

   insignificant; unimportant.

   "these are small points"

   synonyms:

   slight, minor, unimportant, trifling, trivial, insignificant, inconsequential, inappreciable, inconsiderable, negligible, nugatory, paltry, infinitesimal; More informalminuscule, piffling, piddling

hiatus : hʌɪˈeɪtəs/ noun
a pause, break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc. 2. a missing part; gap or lacuna

hernia : A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas.

Any time an internal body part pushes into an area where it doesn't belong, it's called a hernia.

 

The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm -- the muscular wall separating the chest cavity from the abdomen.

Normally, the esophagus (food pipe) goes through the hiatus and attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia (also called hiatus hernia) the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening.

 

There are two main types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal (next to the esophagus).

 

 

In a sliding hiatal hernia, the stomach and the section of the esophagus that joins the stomach slide up into the chest through the hiatus. This is the more common type of hernia.

 

The paraesophageal hernia is less common, but is more cause for concern. The esophagus and stomach stay in their normal locations, but part of the stomach squeezes through the hiatus, landing it next to the esophagus. Although you can have this type of hernia without any symptoms, the danger is that the stomach can become "strangled," or have its blood supply shut off.

 

 

Many people with hiatal hernia have no symptoms, but others may have heartburn related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Although there appears to be a link, one condition does not seem to cause the other, because many people have a hiatal hernia without having GERD, and others have GERD without having a hiatal hernia.

People with heartburn may experience chest pain that can easily be confused with the pain of a heart attack. That's why it's so important to undergo testing and get properly diagnosed.

 

What Causes a Hiatal Hernia?

Most of the time, the cause is not known. A person may be born with a larger hiatal opening. Increased pressure in the abdomen such as from pregnancy, obesity, coughing, or straining during bowel movements may also play a role.

Who Is at Risk for Hiatal Hernia?

Hiatal hernias occur more often in women, people who are overweight, and people older than 50.

How Is a Hiatal Hernia Diagnosed?

A hiatal hernia can be diagnosed with a specialized X-ray (using a barium swallow) that allows a doctor to see the esophagus or with endoscopy.