Areas - Inguinal Canal Flashcards
What is the inguinal canal?
The inguinal canal is a short passageway that extends inferiorly and medially through the inferior part of the abdominal wall. It is superior and parallel to the inguinal ligament.
The canal serves as a pathway by which structures can pass from the abdominal wall to the external genitalia. It is of clinical importance as a potential weakness in the abdominal wall, and thus a common site of herniation.
Development of the inguinal canal?
During development, the tissue that will become the gonads (either the testes or ovaries) establish in the posterior abdominal wall, and descend through the abdominal cavity. A fibrous cord of tissue called the gubernaculum attaches the inferior portion of the gonad to the future scrotum or labia, and guides thenm during their descent.
The inguinal canal is the pathway by which the testes (in an individual with the XY karyotype) leave the abdominal cavity and enter the scrotum. in the embryological stage, the canal is flanked by an out-pocketing of the peritoneum (processus vaginalis) and the abdominal musculature.
The processus vaginalis normally degenerates, but failure to do so can result in an indirect inguinal hernia, a hydrocele, or interfere with the descent of the testes. The gubernaculum (once it has shortened in the process of the descent of the testes) becomes a small scrotal ligament, tethering the testes to the scrotum and limiting their movement.
Individuals with an XX karyotype also have a gubernaculum, which attaches the ovaries to the uterus and future labia majora. Because the ovaries are attached to the uterus by the gubernaculum, there are prevented from descending as far as the testes, instead moving into the pelvic cavity. The gubernaculum then becomes two structures in the adult: the ovarian ligament and round ligament of the uterus.
Clinical relevance - mid-inguinal point and midpoint of the inguinal ligament?
These two terms are mentioned frequently in this article, and are often (mistakenly) used interchangeably:
1) Mid-inguinal point - halfway between the pubic symphysis and the anterior superior iliac spine. The femoral pulse can be palpated here.
2) Midpoint of the inguinal ligament - halfway between the pubic tubercle and the anterior superior iliac spine (the two attachments of the inguinal ligament). The opening to the inguinal canal is located just above this point.
Boundaries?
The inguinal canal is bordered by anterior, posterior, superior and inferior walls. It has two openings - the superficial and deep rings.
Walls
- Anterior wall - aponeurosis of the external oblique, reinforced by the internal oblique muscle laterally.
- Posterior wall - trasversalis fascia.
- Roof - trasveralis fascia, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis.
- Floor - inguinal ligament (a ‘rolled up’ portion of the external oblique aponeurosis), thickened medially by the lacunar ligament.
During periods of increased intra-abdominal pressure, the abdominal viscera are pushed into the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. To prevent herniation of the viscera into the canal, the muscles of the anterior and posterior wall contract, and ‘clamp down’ on the canal.
Rings of the inguinal canal?
The two openings to the inguinal canal are known as rings.
1) Deep (internal) ring - found above the midpoint of the inguinal ligament, which is lateral to the epigastric vessels. The ring is created by transversalis fascia, which invaginates to form a covering of the contents of the inguinal canal.
2) Superficial (external) ring - marks the inguinal canal, and lies just superior to the pubic tubercle. It is triangle shaped opening, formed by the evagination of the external oblique, which forms another covering of the inguinal canal contents. This opening contains intercrural fibresm which run perpendicular to the aponeurosis of the external oblique and prevent the ring from widening.
Contents?
1) Spermatic cord (biological males only) - contains neurovascular and reproductive structures that supply and drain the testes.
2) Round ligament (biological females only) - originates from the uterine horn and travels through the inguinal canal to attach at the labia majora.
3) Ilioinguinal ligament - contributes towards the sensory innervation of the genitalia. It exits via the superficial inguinal ring. This nerve is at most risk during an inguinal hernia repair.
4) Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve - supplies the cremaster muscle and anterior scrotal skin in males, and the skin of the mons pubis and labia majora in females.
The walls of the inguinal canals are usually collapsed around their contents, preventing other structure from potentially entering the canal and becoming stuck.
Clinical relevance - inguinal hernia?
A hernia is defined as the protrusion of an organ or fascia through the wall of a cavity that normally contains it. Hernias involving the inguinal canal can be divided into two main categories:
1) Indirect - where the peritoneal sac enters the inguinal canal through the deep inguinal ring.
2) Direct - where the peritoneal sac enters the inguinal canal through the posterior wall of the inguinal canal.
Both types of inguinal hernia can present as lumps in the scrotum or labia majora.
Indirect inguinal hernia
These are the more common of the two types. They are caused by the failure of the processus vaginalis to regress.
The peritoneal sac (and potentially loops of bowel) enters the inguinal canal via the deep inguinal ring. The degree to which the sac herniates depends on the amount of processus vaginalis is stil present.
Large herniations are possible in which peritoneal sac and its contents may traverse the entire inguinal canal, emerge through the superficial inguinal ring, and reach the scrotum.
Direct inguinal hernia
In contrast to the indirect hernia, direct inguinal hernias are acquired, usually in adulthood, due to weakening in the abdominal musculature.
The peritoneal sac bulges into the inguinal canal via the posterior wall medial to the epigastric vessels and can enter the superficial inguinal ring. The sac is not covered with the coverings of contents of the canal.
