What type of inguinal hernia traverses both the deep and superficial rings?

• A. Femoral
• B. Direct inguinal
• C. Umbilical
• D. Indirect inguinal

Answer: (D)

An indirect inguinal hernia uses the entire inguinal canal, entering at the deep (internal) ring and exiting at the superficial (external) ring. This happens when a patent processus vaginalis allows a hernial sac to descend from the abdomen through the deep ring, travel alongside the spermatic cord in the canal, and protrude through the superficial ring into the scrotum in males. Because it follows the full length of the canal, it traverses both rings. In contrast, a direct inguinal hernia pushes through the anterior abdominal wall within the inguinal canal medially to the inferior epigastric vessels and does not pass through the deep ring. A femoral hernia goes below the inguinal ligament through the femoral canal, and an umbilical hernia occurs at the umbilicus through the umbilical ring.