Definitions for "Omphalocele"
A hernia at the navel.
Umbilical hernia. Another name for exomphalos.
Abdominal wall defect in the fetus, located in the umbilicus. Often, a membrane covers the exteriorized intestines. "Giant" omphaloceles contain not only intestines, but liver as well. If only a very small defect is present, this is often referred to as "hernia of the umbilical cord." Omphaloceles are to be differentiated from gastroschisis, where the defect is to the side (usually left) of the belly button. Omphaloceles are often associated with other anomalies, including congenital heart defects. Omphalocele can also be part of a syndrome, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, pentalogy of Cantrell and cloacal exstrophy.