The etiology of ventral hernia is not completely agreed upon by all clinicians. Trauma of many sorts which causes weakening of the muscle fibers is commonly incriminated. Ventral hernia often occurs along the posterior border of the last rib which might indicate a possible hereditary or predisposing weakness of the attachment of the abdominal muscles at this point. Ventral was used to differentiate this hernia from umbilical and inguinal type hernias. It was also referred to as false because in this particular case the peritoneum was torn which is not the case in a true hernia.