Femoral Canal

Question 1

What does the femoral canal contain?

Answer 1

Lymphatic vessels, which drain into deep inguinal lymph nodes (e.g. lacunar node), empty space, connective tissue

Question 2

Why is the empty space important in the femoral canal?

Answer 2

Allows distension of the adjacent femoral vein when there’s increased venous return or increased intra-abdominal pressure

Question 3

Why is the femoral canal clinically significant?

Answer 3

It’s a common site of bowel herniation/femoral herniation because part of the bowel can move through the femoral canal and poke out of the saphenous opening (femoral hernia) or just get stuck in the canal (strangulated bowel hernia, where blood supply is cut off due to non-distensible walls of femoral canal)