A client presents with a small bulge at the bottom of his rib cage above his abdomen. The client tells you he has a hernia. What type of hernia does he have?

A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach bulges through the muscles separating the abdomen from the diaphragm due to weakened abdominal muscles. A small hiatal hernia usually does not cause problems but a large one can cause food and reflux to back up in the esophagus. The other types of hernias occur in other locations torso - umbilical (navel), inguinal (groin) and incisional (lower in the abdomen area).