Femoral Triangle Flashcards
What is the femoral triangle?
A hollow in the anterior thigh region
Why is the femoral triangle an area of the anatomical and clinical importance?
Many large neurovascular structures pass through this area, and can be accessed relatively easily
What borders does the femoral triangle have?
Superior border
Lateral border
Medial border
What is the superior border of the femoral triangle formed by?
The inguinal ligament
What is the inguinal ligament?
A ligament that runs from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubis tubercle
What forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle?
The medial border of the sartorius muscle
What does the medial border of the femoral triangle?
The medial border of the adductor longus muscle
What is the roof of the femoral triangle formed by?
The fascia lata
What is the base of the femoral triangle formed by?
The pectineus, iliopsoas and adductor longus muscle
What does the inguinal ligament act as?
A flexor retinaculum
What does the inguinal ligament do?
Supports the contents of the femoral triangle during flexion at the hip
What is the contents of femoral triangle (medial to lateral)?
Femoral nerve
Femoral artery
Femoral vein
Femoral canal
What does the femoral nerve do?
Innervate the anterior compartment of the thigh
Provides sensory branches
What is the femoral artery responsible for?
The majority of the arterial supply to the lower limb
What happens to the femoral vein within the triangle?
The great saphenous vein drains into the femoral vein within the triangle
What is the femoral canal?
A structure which contains deep lymph nodes and vessels
How are the femoral artery, vein and canal contained?
Within a fascial compartment, known as the femoral sheath
Where can the femoral pulse be palpated?
Just inferior to where the femoral artery crosses the inguinla ligament, exactly midway between the pubis symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine
What does the presence of a femoral pulse mean?
Blood is reaching the lower extremity
Where is the femoral artery located within the femoral triangle?
Superficially
What is the result of the femoral artery being located superficially?
It is easy to access, and so suitable for a range of clinical procedures
Give an example of a procedure that the femoral artery is used for
Coronary angiography
What happens in coronary angiography?
The femoral artery is catheterised with a long, thin tube. The tube is navigated up the external iliac artery, common iliac artery, aorta, and into the coronary vessels. A radioactive dye in then ejected into the coronary vessels, and any wall thickening or blockages can be visualised via x-ray imaging.
What can the femoral artery be catheterised to do?
Draw blood for arterial blood gases
What is a hernia?
A condition in which part of an organ is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it
What happens in a femoral hernia?
Part of the bowel pushes into the femoral canal, underneath the inguinal ligament
How does a femoral hernia manifest clinically?
As a lump or bulge in the area of the femoral triangle
What does a femoral hernia usually require to treat?
Surgical intervention
