Navel

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Navel
Ombelico.JPG
Human navel
Details
Precursor Umbilical cord
Ductus venosus
Artery Umbilical artery
Vein Umbilical vein
Identifiers
Latin umbilicus
MeSH D014472
TA98 A01.2.04.005
TA2 261
FMA 61584
Anatomical terminology

The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus; pl.: umbilici or umbilicuses; commonly known as the belly button or tummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. [1] All placental mammals have a navel, although it is generally more conspicuous in humans.

Contents

Structure

The navel is the centre of the circle in this drawing of the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci Da Vinci Vitruve Luc Viatour.jpg
The navel is the centre of the circle in this drawing of the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

The umbilicus is used to visually separate the abdomen into quadrants. [2]

The umbilicus is a prominent scar on the abdomen, with its position being relatively consistent among humans. The skin around the waist at the level of the umbilicus is supplied by the tenth thoracic spinal nerve (T10 dermatome). The umbilicus itself typically lies at a vertical level corresponding to the junction between the L3 and L4 vertebrae, [3] with a normal variation among people between the L3 and L5 vertebrae. [4]

Parts of the adult navel include the "umbilical cord remnant" or "umbilical tip", which is the often protruding scar left by the detachment of the umbilical cord. This is located in the center of the navel, sometimes described as the belly button. Around the cord remnant is the "umbilical collar", formed by the dense fibrous umbilical ring. Surrounding the umbilical collar is the periumbilical skin. Directly behind the navel is a thick fibrous cord formed from the umbilical cord, called the urachus, which originates from the bladder. [5]

The belly button is unique to each individual due to it being a scar, and various general forms have been classified by medical practitioners. [6] [7] [ further explanation needed ]

Clinical significance

The navel of an adult male a few days after a laparoscopic procedure to remove the appendix. Navel after a laparoscopic procedure.jpg
The navel of an adult male a few days after a laparoscopic procedure to remove the appendix.

Disorders

Outies are sometimes mistaken for umbilical hernias; however, they are a completely different shape with no health concern, unlike an umbilical hernia. The navel (specifically abdominal wall) would be considered an umbilical hernia if the protrusion were 5 centimeters or more. The diameter of an umbilical hernia is usually 1/2-inch or more. [9] Navels that are concave are nicknamed "innies". [10] While the shape of the human navel may be affected by long term changes to diet and exercise, unexpected change in shape may be the result of ascites. [11]

In addition to change in shape being a possible side effect from ascites and umbilical hernias, the navel can be involved in umbilical sinus or fistula, which in rare cases can lead to menstrual or fecal discharge from the navel. Menstrual discharge from the umbilicus is a rare disorder associated with umbilical endometriosis. [12] [13]

Other disorders

Surgery

To minimize scarring, the navel is a recommended site of incision for various surgeries, including transgastric appendicectomy, [16] gall bladder surgery, [17] and the umbilicoplasty [18] procedure itself.

Fashion, society and culture

The public exposure of the male and female midriff and bare navel was considered taboo at times in the past in Western cultures, being considered immodest or indecent. Female navel exposure was banned in some jurisdictions, but community perceptions have changed to this now being acceptable. [19] The crop top is a shirt that often exposes the belly button and has become more common among young people. [20] Exposure of the male navel has rarely been stigmatised and has become particularly popular in recent years, due to the strong resurgence of the male crop top and male navel piercing. [21] The navel and midriff are often also displayed in bikinis, or when low-rise pants are worn.

While the West was relatively resistant to navel-baring clothing until the 1980s, it has long been a fashion with Indian women, [22] often displayed with saris or lehengas.

The Japanese have long had a special regard for the navel. During the early Jōmon period in northern Japan, three small balls indicating the breasts and navel were pasted onto flat clay objects to represent the female body. The navel was exaggerated in size, informed by the belief that the navel symbolized the center where life began. [23]

In Arabic-Levantine culture, belly dancing is a popular art form that consists of dance movements focused on the torso and navel. [24]

Buddhism and Hinduism refer to the chakra of the navel as the manipura. In qigong, the navel is seen as the main energy centre, or dantian. In Hinduism, the Kundalini energy is sometimes described as being located at the navel.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hernia</span> Abnormal exit of tissues or organs from the cavity they usually reside in

A hernia is the abnormal exit of tissue or an organ, such as the bowel, through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. The term is also used for the normal development of the intestinal tract, referring to the retraction of the intestine from the extra-embryonal navel coelom into the abdomen in the healthy embryo at about 7½ weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navel piercing</span> Type of piercing located in, or around, the navel

A navel piercing is a type of piercing that penetrates the skin of the navel. It is most commonly located on the upper fold of skin but can also be affected underneath or around the edges of the navel. Healing usually takes around 6–12 months but varies person-to-person due to differences in physiology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appendectomy</span> Surgical removal of the vermiform appendix

An appendectomy or appendicectomy is a surgical operation in which the vermiform appendix is removed. Appendectomy is normally performed as an urgent or emergency procedure to treat complicated acute appendicitis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominoplasty</span> Surgical procedure to make the abdomen thinner and firmer

Abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and more firm. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. This type of surgery is usually sought by patients with loose or sagging tissues, that develop after pregnancy or major weight loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meckel's diverticulum</span> Medical condition

A Meckel's diverticulum, a true congenital diverticulum, is a slight bulge in the small intestine present at birth and a vestigial remnant of the vitelline duct. It is the most common malformation of the gastrointestinal tract and is present in approximately 2% of the population, with males more frequently experiencing symptoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omphalocele</span> Rare abdominal wall defect in which internal organs remain outside of the abdomen in a sac

Omphalocele or omphalocoele also called exomphalos, is a rare abdominal wall defect. Beginning at the 6th week of development, rapid elongation of the gut and increased liver size reduces intra abdominal space, which pushes intestinal loops out of the abdominal cavity. Around 10th week, the intestine returns to the abdominal cavity and the process is completed by the 12th week. Persistence of intestine or the presence of other abdominal viscera in the umbilical cord results in an omphalocele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbilical hernia</span> Medical condition

An umbilical hernia is a health condition where the abdominal wall behind the navel is damaged. It may cause the navel to bulge outwards—the bulge consisting of abdominal fat from the greater omentum or occasionally parts of the small intestine. The bulge can often be pressed back through the hole in the abdominal wall, and may "pop out" when coughing or otherwise acting to increase intra-abdominal pressure. Treatment is surgical, and surgery may be performed for cosmetic as well as health-related reasons.

In medicine, the Sister Mary Joseph nodule refers to a palpable nodule bulging into the umbilicus as a result of metastasis of a malignant cancer in the pelvis or abdomen. Sister Mary Joseph nodules can be painful to palpation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbilicoplasty</span> Plastic surgery procedure

Umbilicoplasty, sometimes referred to as "belly button surgery", is a plastic surgery procedure to modify the appearance of one's navel. It may be performed as part of a tummy tuck or lower body lift operation, or it may be performed alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior epigastric artery</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the inferior epigastric artery is an artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein; inferiorly, these two inferior epigastric vessels together travel within the lateral umbilical fold The inferior epigastric artery then traverses the arcuate line of rectus sheath to enter the rectus sheath, then anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery within the rectus sheath.

An incisional hernia is a type of hernia caused by an incompletely-healed surgical wound. Since median incisions in the abdomen are frequent for abdominal exploratory surgery, ventral incisional hernias are often also classified as ventral hernias due to their location. Not all ventral hernias are from incisions, as some may be caused by other trauma or congenital problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round ligament of liver</span> Attaches the liver to the abdominal wall

The round ligament of the liver, ligamentum teres or ligamentum teres hepatis is a ligament that forms part of the free edge of the falciform ligament of the liver. It connects the liver to the umbilicus. It is the remnant of the left umbilical vein. The round ligament divides the left part of the liver into medial and lateral sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navel fetishism</span> Sexual interest focused on the navel

Navel fetishism, belly button fetishism, or alvinophilia is a partialism in which an individual is attracted to the human navel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Median umbilical ligament</span> Structure in human anatomy

In human anatomy, the median umbilical ligament is an unpaired midline ligamentous structure upon the lower inner surface of the anterior abdominal wall. It is covered by the median umbilical fold.

Single-port laparoscopy (SPL) is a recently developed technique in laparoscopic surgery. It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the surgeon operates almost exclusively through a single entry point, typically the patient's navel. Unlike a traditional multi-port laparoscopic approach, SPL leaves only a single small scar.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an advanced, minimally invasive (keyhole) procedure in which the surgeon operates almost exclusively through a single entry point, typically the patient's umbilicus (navel). Special articulating instruments and access ports eliminate the need to place trochars externally for triangulation, thus allowing the creation of a small, solitary portal of entry into the abdomen.

Umbilical granuloma is the most common umbilical abnormality in newborn children or neonates, causing inflammation and drainage. It may appear in the first few weeks of newborn infants during the healing process of the umbilical cord due to an umbilical mass. It is the overgrowth of the umbilical tissue. It develops in about 1 out of 500 newborns. With appropriate treatment, it is expected to heal in 1~2 weeks.

Trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) is a type of breast augmentation in which breast implants are placed through an incision at the navel rather than the chest.

Cultural views on the midriff and navel vary significantly. In some cultures the navel is seen as sexually and culturally significant, and its exposure has been subject to a variety of cultural norms and taboos, based on concepts of modesty. The views, customs and fashions relating to the midriff and navel change from time to time, and such exposure has become more widely acceptable, as reflected in the designs of clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omphalotomy</span>

Omphalotomy is the medical procedure that involves the cutting of the umbilical cord after childbirth. The word omphalotomy is derived from the prefix omphal(o)-, from the Ancient Greek word ὀμφαλός (omphalós), meaning navel, and the suffix -tomy, also from Ancient Greek, meaning incision. The incision is normally made between two clamps on the umbilical cord, used to stop blood flow, leaving an umbilical stump attached to the baby. After roughly 15 days, the remaining umbilical stump dries out and falls off, leaving a scar: the navel, or belly-button

References

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  5. Khati, Nadia J.; Enquist, Erik G.; Javitt, Marcia C. (1998). "Imaging of the Umbilicus and Periumbilical Region". Radiographics. 18 (2): 413–4. doi:10.1148/radiographics.18.2.9536487. PMID   9536487.
  6. Shiffman, Melvin (2017). "7.3". Adult Umbilical Reconstruction: Principles and Techniques. Switzerland: Springer. p. 53. ISBN   978-3-319-43885-6.
  7. Mohamed, Fahmy (2018). "Umbilicus Types and Shapes". Umbilicus and Umbilical Cord. Egypt: Springer. pp. 105–8. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62383-2_22. ISBN   978-3-319-62382-5.
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  9. Meier, Donald E.; OlaOlorun, David A.; Omodele, Rachael A.; Nkor, Sunday K.; Tarpley, John L. (2001). "Incidence of Umbilical Hernia in African Children: Redefinition of 'Normal' and Reevaluation of Indications for Repair". World Journal of Surgery. 25 (5): 645–8. doi:10.1007/s002680020072. PMID   11369993. S2CID   22628578.
  10. Ceccanti, Silvia, et al. "Umbilical cord sparing technique for repair of congenital hernia into the cord and small omphalocele." Journal of Pediatric Surgery 52.1 (2017): 192-196.
  11. Herrine, Steven K. "Ascites". The Merck Manuals.
  12. Bagade, Pallavi V; Guirguis, Mamdouh M (2009). "Menstruating from the umbilicus as a rare case of primary umbilical endometriosis: a case report". Journal of Medical Case Reports. 3: 9326. doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-3-9326 . PMC   2803849 . PMID   20062755.
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  17. "SRMC Surgeon Offers Gallbladder Removal through Belly Button Incision with da Vinci System" (Press release). Southeastern Health. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. Bruekers, Sven E.; van der Lei, Berend; Tan, Tik L.; Luijendijk, Roland W.; Stevens, Hieronymus P. J. D. (2009). "'Scarless' Umbilicoplasty". Annals of Plastic Surgery. 63 (1): 15–20. doi:10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181877b60. PMID   19546666. S2CID   206034192.
  19. "New code may reveal navel". Mohave Daily Miner. 24 March 1985. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  20. "Men in crop tops seem to be trending thanks to Kid Cudi, the social media and the catwalk" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
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  24. "Belly Dance History – A History of Belly Dancing « Belly Dance org". bellydance.org. Retrieved 24 December 2018.

Further reading