EXOMPHALOS means umbilical hernia and also hernia into the umbilical cord. This is a misnomer. Under the generic name "hernia," a protrusion of a hernial sac is implied, consisting of peritoneum. As shown below, no such sac was found in the case under discussion since the umbilicus is an anatomic landmark that is formed post partum. The term "entomphalos" is proposed for what is actually an antenatal disease, for the contents of the sac were probably never within the abdomen. The gross anatomy of the umbilicus must be appreciated if the pathology of umbilical hernia is to be understood. When . . .