A 75-Year-Old Man with Chronic Bronchitis Noticed That a Bulge

A 75-year-old man with chronic bronchitis noticed that a bulge was developing in his left groin. On examination, an elongated swelling was seen above the medial end of the left inguinal ligament. When the patient coughed, the swelling enlarged but did not descend into the scrotum. The patient had weak abdominal muscles.
-The symptoms and signs displayed by this patient can be explained by the following statements except which?

A) The inguinal swelling was a direct inguinal hernia.
B) The cause of the hernia was weak abdominal muscles.
C) The hernial sac was wide and in direct communication with the peritoneal cavity.
D) A rise in intraabdominal pressure on coughing caused the hernial swelling to expand.
E) The swelling occured lateral to the inferior epigastric artery.