Adductor Canal

Question 1

Contents

Answer 1

Femoral artery, femoral vein, nerve to the vastus medialis and the saphenous nerve (the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve).

Question 2

What do femoral artery and vein become once they leave the canal?

Answer 2

Popliteal artery and vein

Question 3

Describe what an adductor canal block is and when it might be used

Answer 3

In the adductor canal block, local anaesthetic is administered in the adductor canal to block the saphenous nerve in isolation, or together with the nerve to the vastus medialis.

The block can be used to provide sensory anaesthesia for procedures involving the distal thigh and femur, knee and lower leg on the medial side. The sartorius and femoral artery are used as anatomical landmarks to locate the saphenous nerve.

Question 4

Borders

Answer 4

Anterior: Sartorius.
Lateral: Vastus medialis.
Posterior: Adductor longus and adductor magnus.

The apex of the adductor canal is marked by the adductor hiatus – a gap between the adductor and hamstring attachments of the adductor magnus.