Femoral Triangle Flashcards
What form the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
Superior = inguinal ligament Medially = lateral border of adductor longus Laterally = medial border of sartorius Floor = iliopsoas (laterally) & pectineus (medially) Roof = deep fascia
What is inside the femoral triangle?
Femoral Nerve
Femoral Artery
Femoral Vein
And canal containing lymphatics (deep inguinal lymph nodes)
Why is palpation of the femoral artery clinically important?
locate vein - for cannulation
locate nerve - for administration of a nerve block
The femoral artery can be used as an access route in angiograms, coronary artery stenting, valve replacements…
What kind of hernia occurs through the triangle?
Femoral hernia through the canal (canal also contains deep inguinal lymph nodes)
What surrounds the femoral artery and vein?
Femoral sheath
What forms the femoral sheath?
Short tube of transversalis and iliopsoas fascia from the abdominal wall
Does the femoral sheath cover the femoral nerve?
No
Where does the femoral nerve arise from?
L2, L3, L4
What branches from the femoral nerve?
Saphenous nerve (sensory)
Which two structures does the saphenous nerve pass between?
the sartorius and gracilis
What does the saphenous nerve supply?
Fascia and skin of the anteromedial aspects of the knee and leg, and the medial aspect of the foot (here it accompanies the great saphenous vein)
How is the femoral canal related to the femoral sheath?
Femoral canal = most media part of the femoral sheath
What does the femoral canal contain?
The deep inguinal lymph nodes and adipose tissue
The lymph nodes run in a chain medial to the femoral vein
Which arteries supply the head of the femur? Through which branches?
Medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries through the retinacular branches
What is the inferior border of the external oblique aponeurosis?
inguinal ligament
Between which two structures does the inguinal ligament run?
Anterior Superior Iliac Spine & Pubic tubercle
What does the medial half of the inguinal ligament ‘gutter’ contain?
Spermatic cord or round ligament depending on gender
Do the femoral vessels pass anteriorly or posteriorly to the inguinal ligament?
Posteriorly through the retroinguinal space
Name the 6 muscles of the anterior thigh
Iliopsoas
Sartorius
Qaudriceps femoris (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medius)
Describe the attachments of the iliopsoas
Proximal - iliac fossa (iliacus)
Lumbar transverse
