Over the past century, there has been a significant increase in the understanding of abdominal wall anatomy as it relates to inguinal and ventral hernia repairs. Since the initial reports of successful primary inguinal herniorrhaphy, recurrence rates have dramatically decreased because of the improved understanding of the pathologic defect. This article will review the important nomenclature of the groin region, briefly review the bony and tissue anatomy of the groin, and describe the anatomic hole from which the pathologic hole (hernia) originates.