Which type of hernia is most often found extending into the scrotum in males?

An indirect inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia that can extend into the scrotum in males. This occurs because indirect inguinal hernias arise from a congenital weakness in the abdominal wall, specifically through the inguinal canal, which is a passage in the lower abdominal wall. In males, this canal allows the spermatic cord to pass through, and when a hernia occurs, abdominal contents can follow this path, resulting in a bulge that may extend into the scrotum.

Furthermore, the anatomy of the inguinal canal is such that indirect inguinal hernias can traverse the canal, while conditions like umbilical hernias typically protrude through the abdominal wall around the umbilicus and do not follow the inguinal canal path. Direct inguinal hernias occur through a weakness in the floor of the inguinal canal but typically do not extend into the scrotum as often as indirect inguinal hernias do. Femoral hernias are more common in females and appear below the inguinal ligament in the femoral canal, making them less likely to extend into the scrotum in males.

Thus, the relationship between the indirect inguinal hernia and