Femoral Triangle Flashcards
What aspect of the lower limb does the femoral nerve supply?
Anterior thigh (red in image)
What aspect of the lower limb does the obturator nerve supply?
Medial thigh (purple)
What nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the orange region?
Anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve (L2, L3, L4)
What forms the iliotibial tract?
The fascia latae becomes thickened laterally and forms the IT tract
What nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the yellow region?
Lateral cutaneous branch of T12
What is the femoral sheath?
It is a fascia that covers the vascular structures associated with the femoral triangle
What is the femoral triangle?
A triangular shape on the anterior thigh
It is subfascial space which appears as a triangular depression below the inguinal ligament when the thigh is flexed, abducted and laterally rotated
What are the contents of the femoral triangle?
From lateral to medial - NAVL
Femoral nerve, artery, vein and lymphatics
What are the roots of the obturator nerve?
Anterior divisions of L2, 3, 4
What does the horizontal lymph node group of the superficial inguinal nodes drain?
- Medial nodes drain the anterior abdominal wall and the lower half of the anal canal
- Lateral nodes drain the posterior abdominal wall
What nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the dark green region?
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh (L2, L3)
What are the roots of the sciatic nerve?
L4, L5, S1, S2, S3
Lumbosacral trunk gives L4,5 and sacral nerves S1, 2, 3
What nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the brown region?
Ilioinguinal nerve (L1)
What are the roots of the femoral nerve?
Posterior divisions of L2, 3, 4
Where is the iliotibial tract located?
Runs from the iliac tubercle to the anterolateral tibial tubercle
What structures pass through the subinguinal space?
Femoral nerve and vessels
Describe the fascial relationships of the femoral sheath
Superiorly it blends with the fascia of the transversalis and iliopsoas
Distally it blends with the adventitia of the femoral vessels
What is the femoral canal?
A potential space found within the femoral sheath that contains fat and lymphatics
What is indicated by label A and what structures pass through here?
Greater sciatic foramen
Sciatic and gluteal nerves and vessels
What muscles form the floor of the femoral triangle?
Iliopsoas
Pectineus
What forms the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
Base - Inguinal ligament
Laterally - Sartorius
Medially - Adductor Longus
What forms the roof of the femoral triangle?
Fasciae latae
Cribiform fascia
Subcutaneous tissue
Skin
What structures pass through the obturator canal?
Obturator nerves and vessels
What nerve supplies cutaneous innervation to the light green region?
Cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
True or False?
All of the structures of the femoral triangle are contained within the femoral sheath
False!
The femoral nerve isn’t. Instead its more closely associated with iliopsoas muscle and enters the anterior surface of the thigh on the muscle
What are the 2 main groups of superficial inguinal lymph nodes?
Horizontal and Vertical group
What nerve supplies cutaneous supply to the red region?
Femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve (L1, L2)
What is the saphenous hiatus (ovoid hiatus)?
An opening in the fascia latae inferior to the medial part of the inguinal ligament
The great saphenous vein drains into the femoral vein
What does the vertical group of superficial inguinal nodes drain?
Drain the superficial lower limb
What aspect of the lower limb does the sciatic nerve supply?
Posterior thigh
Branches supply the rest of the leg and the foot
What is the role of the iliotibial tract?
Helps to support the femur on the tibia when standing
What are the main superficial veins of the lower limb?
Great and short saphenous veins
