hiatus hernia

1 6.2

Part of the stomach pushes up through the muscle under the lungs into the chest

noun
/haɪˈeɪtəs ˈhɜrniə/

: hernia hiatal

My father was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia that causes him chest pain after meals.

Examples

While the results obtained after the laparoscopic treatment in giant hiatus hernia (type III) have been controverted.

Academic text (2007)
After experiencing severe acid reflux, I learned I have a hiatus hernia.
The doctor explained that a hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm.

Synonyms

hernia

vshiatus hernia

Specialized

42 5.6

A lump in the body where an organ pushes through a weak spot in the muscle

is used only for the specific case of stomach moving into the chest

herniation

vshiatus hernia

Specialized

2 8.1

Part of an organ or tissue pushes through a tear in the surrounding muscle

describes the named medical condition of stomach entering the chest, not the general protrusion

hiatal hernia

vshiatus hernia

Specialized

1 5.6

A part of the stomach that pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest

is the same condition but is an alternative form or spelling

diaphragmatic hernia

vshiatus hernia

Specialized

1 7.1

A hole in the muscle between chest and belly that lets stomach or other organs push through

is restricted to stomach protrusion into the chest rather than other organs

Surface Forms

hiatus hernia singular

hiatus hernias plural

Morphology

hiatus + hernia

The meaning is directly compositional: 'hiatus' names the anatomical opening in the diaphragm and 'hernia' denotes tissue bulging through a muscle, so a learner who knows both words can infer a hernia at the hiatus (stomach protruding through the diaphragm). Although medical terminology is technical, the relation is literal and follows a standard pattern of naming hernias by location, making the MWE readily interpretable.

Etymology

Hiatus hernia is a name that describes the problem: hiatus means a small 'opening' and hernia means when something pushes through a weak spot. In this condition part of the stomach pushes up through that opening in the muscle between the chest and the belly, so the name means the stomach 'pushing into the chest'.