Femoral Triangle

Question 1

Femoral Triangle Boundaries

Answer 1

Base - inguinal ligament

Lateral wall - sartorius

Medial Wall - Adductor longus

Question 2

Femoral Sheath General Info

Answer 2

encloses proximal parts of femoral vessels and femoral canal

allows femoral vessels to glide smoothly deep to inguinal ligament during hip joint movement

Question 3

3 Compartments of Femoral Sheath

Answer 3

Lateral - femoral artery

Intermdiate - femoral vein

Medial or femoral canal - empty space and lymph nodes

NAVEL towards your navel

DOES NOT CONTAIN FEMORAL NERVE

Question 4

Femoral Canal General Info

Answer 4

Short conical medial compartment of femoral sheath

Contains a few lymph vessels, loose connective tissue, and fat

Allows femoral vein to expand during increased venous return

Extends distally to saphenous opening

Question 5

Femoral Ring

Answer 5

Proximal opening of the femoral canal

covered by parietal peritoneum

Question 6

Clincial Anatomy: Femoral Ring

Answer 6

Femoral Hernia - weak area in the anterior abdominal wall where a loop of sm. intesine can protrude into femoral canal

Direct Inguinal Hernia - through the inguinal ring

Indirect Inguinal Hernia - through Hasselbach’s triangle

Question 7

Inguinal Lymph Nodes Functions

Answer 7

Drain lymph from lower limb (including gluteal region), perineum and parts of ana canal, and anterior abdominal wall (up to umbilicus)

Question 8

Superficial Inguinal Lymph Nodes

Answer 8

Found in superficial fascia

Proximal (Horizontal) group: 1 cm below inguinal ligament

Distal (vertical group): along each side of great saphenous vein

Both groups: pass deep to inguinal ligament, drain into external iliac lymph nodes

Question 9

Deep Inguinal Lymph Nodes

Answer 9

1-3 nodes along medial side of femoral vein

Inside femoral canal of femoral sheath

Drain into external iliac lymph nodes

Question 10

Femoral Nerve

Answer 10

L2-L4

largest branch of lumbar plexus, forms in abdomen within psoas major

enters thigh just lateral to midpoint of inguinal ligament (lateral to femoral vessels)

Terminal cutaneous branch is saphenous nerve

Supplies anterior thigh mm, hip and knee joints

Iliacus

Sartorius

Quadriceps femoris

Pectineus

Cutaneous innervation

Ant. Intermediate and medial cutaneous branches of femoral nn

Saphenous nn

Lateral femoral cutaneous nn

Question 11

Lower Extremity Dermatomes

Answer 11

Due to limb rotation more lumbar contiributions visible anteriorly and sacral posteriorly

Question 12

Clinical Note: Femoral and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerves

Answer 12

Anterior hip dislocation may affect femoral nn and lateral femoral cutaneous nn

Meralagia paresthetica - compression of lateral femoral cutaneous nn as it passes under inguinal ligament causes pain along lateral thigh

Question 13

Saphenous Nerve

Answer 13

cutaneous branch that accompanies femoral vessels

becomes superficial between sartorius and graceilis

pasees antero-inferiorly with great saphenous vein

Supplies skin of:

anterior and medial knee and leg

medial foot

Question 14

Adductor Canal (Subsartorial or Hunter’s canal)

Answer 14

Adductor canal - intermuscular passage or fascial tunnel, femoral vessels reach popliteal fossa, begins at femoral triangle apex, ends adductor hiatus

Adductor hiatus - opening in tendon of adductor magnus, femoral vessels reach popliteal fossa (posterior knee and leg) via this arch way

Saphenous nerve and saphenous branch of decending genicular artery exit through medial side of the canal

Question 15

Femoral Artery

Answer 15

Cheif arterial supply to lower limb

Enters into femoral triangle

Runs along iliopsoas, pectineus, and adductor longus mm

Gives rise to genicular artery (articular and saphenous branch)

Question 16

Deep Femoral Artery (Profunda Femoris)

Answer 16

Largest branch of femoral artery

Cheif artery to thigh

Perforating arteries supply adductors (adductor magnus) and hastrings mm

In femoral triangle, gives rise to medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries

Question 17

Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery

Answer 17

Clinically important - main supply to femoral head and neck

Question 18

Lateral Cirfumflex Femoral Artery

Answer 18

supplies lateral thigh mm and femur head

Has 3 named branches:

Ascending

Transverse

Decending

Question 19

Femoral Vein

Answer 19

enters femoral triangle medial to femoral artery

Lies deep to femoral artery toward femoral triangle apex

Question 20

Clinical Anatomy: Great Saphenous Vein

Answer 20

Can be used to administer blood, electrolytes, drugs, ect and for coronary bypass surgery

To acess and incision is made anterior to medial malleolus

Runs very close to saphenous nerve