Femoral Triangle and Canal Flashcards
What is the important surface landmark of the anterior thigh, which is seen as a depression below the inguinal ligament on the anterior surface of the proximal thigh?
Femoral Triangle
Why is the femoral triangle clinically important?
- hernias are common here (femoral hernias)
- it is an arterial pressure point in the case of uncontrolled bleeding of the
lower extremity
What is the superior boundary of the femoral triangle?
inguinal ligament
What is the lateral boundary of the femoral triangle?
sartorius
What is the medial boundary of the femoral triangle?
adductor longus
contents of the femoral triangle going from lateral to medial include:
femoral nerve and several of its branches
femoral sheath and its contents (femoral artery and vein)
inguinal lymph nodes
consists of connective tissue which encloses the femoral blood vessels.
it is a downward protrusion of the fascia covering the floor of the pelvic cavity
Femoral Sheath
What is the function of the femoral sheath?
allow the femoral artery and vein to glide deep to the inguinal ligament
during movements of the hip joint
the sheath is subdivided into three compartments, what is the lateral compartment for?
femoral artery
the sheath is subdivided into three compartments, what is the intermediate compartment for?
femoral vein
the sheath is subdivided into three compartments, what is the medial compartment for?
femoral canal
The opening in the roof of the femoral canal is known as the
femoral ring
T/F The femoral canal is wider in males then females
False
most medial and smallest of the three compartments formed from the femoral sheath
the space allows the femoral vein to expand when there is increased venous return from the lower
extremity
the canal contains some adipose tissue and single lymphatic lymph node
Femoral Canal
the femoral ring is a weak area in the floor of the pelvic cavity and is the usual originating site for a what?
Femoral Hernia
this type of hernia is a protrusion of abdominal viscera (a small loop of the small intestines) through the
femoral ring into the femoral canal
may become strangulated (blood supply to the herniated intestine is cut off an can be the source of an intestinal
blockage)
this is the main arterial supply of the lower extremity
FEMORAL ARTERY
The femoral artery is a continuation of what?
external iliac artery
begins from the midpoint of the inguinal ligament,
through the femoral triangle and then goes deep to the sartorius muscle within the adductor canal
the femoral artery will pass through the adductor hiatus to become the?
popliteal artery
branches of the femoral artery include:
Look at diagram on pg. 424-425
- superficial branches–which arise within the femoral triangle, about one inch below the
inguinal ligament and usually emerge through the saphenous opening; they supply the proximal anterior thigh region and the named superficial branches are the: -superficial circumflex iliac, superficial epigastric and superficial (external) pudendal - Deep Artery of the Thigh (Femoral Profundus) –which is the first major branch of the artery, arising about two inches below the inguinal ligament
- Lateral and Medial Circumflex– is the first branches coming off the femoral profundus
which wind around the neck of the femur and supply muscles on the lateral and medial
aspect of the thigh as well as being the main blood supply to the neck and head of the
femur - perforating arteries– are branches coming off the femoral profundus distal to the
circumflex branches which “perforate” the adductor muscles; they are usually 3 to 5 in
number and supply muscles and skin on the posterior aspect of the thigh. - descending genicular artery– arises from the medial side of the femoral and supplies the knee and medial aspect of the leg
T/F the best place to take a pulse of the artery is below the midpoint of the inguinal ligament; at this site the
vessel is compressed against the pubic tubercle
True
What enters the thigh by passing through the opening in the adductor magnus as a
continuation of the popliteal vein
the femoral vein
as the femoral vein leaves the femoral triangle and enters the pelvis, it becomes the
external iliac vein
in the inferior part of the femoral triangle, the femoral vein lies deep to the femoral artery and receives tributaries
from the ………………and…………………….
femoral profundus and great saphenous vein
lymphatic vessels and nodes found in the femoral triangle
found along and accompanying the great saphenous vein and its tributaries
Inguinal Lymph Nodes
lymph nodes associated with the popliteal vein in the popliteal
fossa
popliteal lymph nodes
a long narrow passageway found along the medial aspect of the thigh located deep to the middle third of the sartorius begins at the apex of the femoral triangle and ends at the adductor hiatus of the adductor magnus
Adductor Canal (Subsartorial or Hunter’s Canal)
Adductor Canal (Subsartorial or Hunter’s Canal) provides a passageway for what 3 structures?
femoral artery
femoral vein
saphenous nerve
these arteries are branches of the internal iliac artery
they leave the pelvic cavity via the greater sciatic notch
Superior and Inferior Gluteal Arteries
the superior gluteal artery supplies the:
- gluteus maximus
- gluteus medius and minimus
- tensor fascia lata
the inferior gluteal artery supplies the:
- gluteus maximus
- obturator internus
- quadratus femoris
- posterior thigh muscles
a mostly fat filled compartment of the posterior knee region. where important blood vessels and nerves
pass from the thigh to the leg
it is diamond shaped and most prominent when the leg is flexed
Popliteal Fossa
lateral boundary of the Popliteal fossa
biceps femoris and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius
medial boundary of the Popliteal fossa
semimembranosus, semitendinosus and the medial head of the
gastrocnemius
roof boundary of the Popliteal fossa
deep fascia and skin
floor boundary of the Popliteal fossa
popliteal surface of the femur, posterior extrinsic ligaments of the
knee joint and the popliteus muscle
contents of the popliteal fossa include:
263, 431 L.M. book
- popliteal artery and vein
- lesser saphenous vein
- common fibular nerve
- tibial nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- popliteal lymph nodes
this is the distal continuation of the femoral artery, once that vessel has passed through the adductor
hiatus of the adductor magnus muscle
it is the deepest neurovascular structure of the popliteal fossa
Popliteal Artery
Popliteal Artery has genicular branches which supply the capsule and ligaments of the knee joint T/F?
T
What is at the back of the knee, providing collateral circulation to the leg during full flexion at the knee joint (when the popliteal artery may be compressed)
genicular
anastomosis
Popliteal Artery terminates at the inferior aspect of the fossa into the……..
anterior and posterior tibial arteries
is an abnormal dilation of the artery which causes swelling and pain in the fossa; this
type of aneurysm may compromise nerves and cause pain to the skin covering the leg and foot
popliteal aneurysm
the bifurcation of the popliteal artery may become the site of an
arterial embolism
which would result in
the loss of blood to leg and foot
T/F the deep position of the Popliteal Artery makes it prone to injury if the distal end of the femur is fractured or if there is a posterior dislocation of the knee joint
True
