Femoral Triangle

Question 1

What is the femoral triangle?

Answer 1

A hollow in the anterior thigh region

Question 2

Why is the femoral triangle an area of the anatomical and clinical importance?

Answer 2

Many large neurovascular structures pass through this area, and can be accessed relatively easily

Question 3

What borders does the femoral triangle have?

Answer 3

Superior border
Lateral border
Medial border

Question 4

What is the superior border of the femoral triangle formed by?

Answer 4

The inguinal ligament

Question 5

What is the inguinal ligament?

Answer 5

A ligament that runs from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubis tubercle

Question 6

What forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle?

Answer 6

The medial border of the sartorius muscle

Question 7

What does the medial border of the femoral triangle?

Answer 7

The medial border of the adductor longus muscle

Question 8

What is the roof of the femoral triangle formed by?

Answer 8

The fascia lata

Question 9

What is the base of the femoral triangle formed by?

Answer 9

The pectineus, iliopsoas and adductor longus muscle

Question 10

What does the inguinal ligament act as?

Answer 10

A flexor retinaculum

Question 11

What does the inguinal ligament do?

Answer 11

Supports the contents of the femoral triangle during flexion at the hip

Question 12

What is the contents of femoral triangle (medial to lateral)?

Answer 12

Femoral nerve
Femoral artery
Femoral vein
Femoral canal

Question 13

What does the femoral nerve do?

Answer 13

Innervate the anterior compartment of the thigh

Provides sensory branches

Question 14

What is the femoral artery responsible for?

Answer 14

The majority of the arterial supply to the lower limb

Question 15

What happens to the femoral vein within the triangle?

Answer 15

The great saphenous vein drains into the femoral vein within the triangle

Question 16

What is the femoral canal?

Answer 16

A structure which contains deep lymph nodes and vessels

Question 17

How are the femoral artery, vein and canal contained?

Answer 17

Within a fascial compartment, known as the femoral sheath

Question 18

Where can the femoral pulse be palpated?

Answer 18

Just inferior to where the femoral artery crosses the inguinla ligament, exactly midway between the pubis symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine

Question 19

What does the presence of a femoral pulse mean?

Answer 19

Blood is reaching the lower extremity

Question 20

Where is the femoral artery located within the femoral triangle?

Answer 20

Superficially

Question 21

What is the result of the femoral artery being located superficially?

Answer 21

It is easy to access, and so suitable for a range of clinical procedures

Question 22

Give an example of a procedure that the femoral artery is used for

Answer 22

Coronary angiography

Question 23

What happens in coronary angiography?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

What can the femoral artery be catheterised to do?

Answer 24

Draw blood for arterial blood gases

Question 25

What is a hernia?

Answer 25

A condition in which part of an organ is displaced and protrudes through the wall of the cavity containing it

Question 26

What happens in a femoral hernia?

Answer 26

Part of the bowel pushes into the femoral canal, underneath the inguinal ligament

Question 27

How does a femoral hernia manifest clinically?

Answer 27

As a lump or bulge in the area of the femoral triangle

Question 28

What does a femoral hernia usually require to treat?

Answer 28

Surgical intervention