An illustration of an epigastric (abdo...

An illustration of an epigastric (abdominal) hernia in an adult male. The torso is shown with its skin removed. Epigastric hernia is caused commonly by a congenital weakness in muscles of the central upper abdomen; the intestine bulges out through the muscle at a point between the navel and breastbone. (Photograph by John Bavosi, Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.)