ABSTRACT
A hernia has been defined as the protrusion of a loop or knuckle of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.1 In their earliest state, hernias of the abdomen and pelvic side wall begin as a protrusion of peritoneum through a fascial defect. They are rarely symptomatic, and typically they are undetectable on physical examination. In order to understand the development of laparoscopic hernia repair, it is necessary to review how the approach to hernias and hernia repair has evolved throughout history.
