What characterizes an indirect hernia?

An indirect hernia is characterized by its anatomical pathway, which involves a protrusion through the internal inguinal ring, following a route created by the obliterated processus vaginalis. The correct choice outlines a weakness in the fascial floor of the inguinal canal, which provides a pathway for the hernia, causing abdominal contents to escape into the inguinal canal.

This type of hernia is often associated with congenital factors, which means a person may be born with a predisposition to developing this weakness. The hernia typically emerges above the inguinal ligament and may travel downwards from the inguinal canal into the scrotum in males, which further signifies its indirect nature.

The other choices do not accurately depict the characteristic of an indirect hernia. For example, the weakness of the fascial margin of the internal ring relates more closely to direct hernias, while protrusion through the rectus muscle is not a defining feature of either type of inguinal hernia.