What type of hernia is characterized by protrusion through the abdominal wall and is typically not associated with an incarceration?

An umbilical hernia is characterized by a protrusion of abdominal contents through the abdominal wall at the site of the umbilicus (navel). These hernias commonly occur in infants and are often small, reducible, and asymptomatic. They do not typically become incarcerated, which means that the contents are not trapped or strangulated, reducing the risk of complications. This benign nature of umbilical hernias allows many to close spontaneously as the child grows.

In contrast, other types of hernias mentioned, such as inguinal and femoral hernias, are more frequently associated with incarceration due to their narrow anatomical pathways. Hiatal hernias, which involve the stomach protruding through the diaphragm, do not fit the characteristic description of an abdominal wall hernia as they do not involve a direct protrusion through the abdominal wall itself but rather through an anatomical defect in the diaphragm.