Femoral Triangle Flashcards
Floor of the femoral triangle contains what?
Pectineus and iliopsoas muscle
Roof of the femoral triangle contains what?
Fascia lata
Contents of the femoral triangle
Femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein, empty space with deep inguinal lymph nodes (femoral canal)
mnemonic = NAVEL (going towards the navel)
Boundaries of the femoral triangle
Lateral border = Sartorius
Medial border = adductor longus
Base = inguinal ligament
Femoral sheath
Funnel shaped continuation of transversalis fascia
The femoral sheath encloses what part of the femoral vessel and canal?
The proximal part
Femoral sheath ends how far distally to the inguinal ligament?
4-10 cm
Femoral ring
The space that allows the femoral vein to distend in situations of hypertension and increased venous return. q
What 2 things may you find in the femoral ring?
- ) Deep inguinal lymph nodes
2. ) Potential opening for a hernia
Femoral hernia
protrusion of abdominal viscera (often a loop of small intes- tine) through the femoral ring into the femoral canal.
Why do most inguinal hernias occur in males?
inguinal hernias (approximately 86%) occur in males because of the passage of the spermatic cord through the inguinal canal
What percentage of hernias are indirect hernias?
2/3
Do males have more inguinal or femoral hernias?
inguinal
Do females have more inguinal or femoral hernias?
(f)emoral
Indirect inguinal hernia
protrusion through the inguinal ring and result of the failure of embryonic closure of the processes vaginalis after the testicle passes through it. This is congenital
Direct inguinal hernia
enters through a weak point in the fascia of the abdominal wall (hesselbach triangle)
Inguinal lymph nodes drain from where?
lower limb (gluteal region), perineum & anal canal, anterior abdominal wall up to umbillicus
Two groups of inguinal lymph nodes
Superficial and deep
Two types of superficial lymph nodes
Proximal (horizontal) and distal (vertical)
Proximal (horizontal) superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Lie in the superficial fascia 1 cm inferior to the inguinal ligament. Drain into the external iliac lymph nodes
Distal (vertical) superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Lie along each side of the great saphenous vein. Drain into the external iliac lymph nodes
Where does the great saphenous vein meet with the femoral vein?
In the saphenous opening
Deep inguinal lymph nodes
1-3 nodes which lie along the femoral vein inside the femoral sheath or canal. Drain into the external iliac lymph nodes
Femoral nerve
Largest branch of the lumbar plexus
Where does the femoral nerve enter the thigh?
Just lateral to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and lateral to the femoral vessels
What muscles does the femoral nerve innervate?
Sartorius, Quadriceps femoris, Illiacus, and Pectineus
mnemonic = Some Questions I Ponder
Meralgia paresthetica
compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as it passes under the inguinal ligament. It causes pain along the lateral thigh
Saphenous nerve
The distal cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve that accompanies the femoral vessels
Where the the saphenous nerve become superficial?
between sartorius and gracilis
What does the saphenous nerve supply?
The anterior and medial knee and leg and the medial foot.
Adductor canal
Intermuscular passage or fascial tunnel that contains the superficial femoral artery, femoral vein, and branches of the femoral nerve
Where does the adductor canal begin and end
Begins at the apex of the femoral triangle and ends at the adductor hiatus
Adductor hiatus
Opening in tendon of adductor Magnus. Femoral vessels reach the popliteal fossa via this archway
What artery is the chief arterial supply to the lower limb?
Femoral artery
The femoral artery gives rise to what?
The descending genicular artery (around the knee)
The descending genicular artery gives rise to what branches?
Articular and saphenous branch
Profunda Femoris supplies what?
The proximal femur
What does profunda femoris give rise to?
The medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries
Medial circumflex femoral artery supplies what?
It is the primary supply to the femoral head and neck
Lateral circumflex femoral artery supplies what? What are its 3 branches?
Lateral thigh muscles and femur head.
Ascending, transverse, and descending
The great saphenous vein can be used for what?
Venous access and coronary bypass surgery
Saphenous cutdown
Removing a piece of the saphenous vein for access to the venous system. During this procedure the saphenous nerve may be nicked which results in numbness of the medial border of the foot.
Originating site of a femoral hernia
The femoral ring
Why are femoral hernias more common in females?
Wider pelvis
