Inguinal canal + hernia Flashcards
What are the 2 main types of inguinal hernia?
Direct inguinal hernia
Indirect inguinal hernia
Why do hernias occur?
Weakness or damage to the abdominal wall
What forms the inguinal ligament?
Aponeurosis of the external oblique
What are the attachment points of the inguinal ligament?
ASIS and pubic tubercle
Where do inguinal and femoral hernias occur, in relation to the inguinal ligament?
Inguinal hernias - above inguinal ligament, in the inguinal canal
Femoral hernia - below inguinal ligament, in femoral canal
What is the midinguinal point?
Midpoint between the ASIS and the midline of the body
What is found at the midinguinal point?
Femoral artery pulse
What is found at the midpoint of the inguinal ligament?
Deep inguinal ring
Which is more medial - midinguinal point or mid-point of the inguinal ligament?
Midinguinal point
Which type of hernia passes through the deep inguinal ring?
Indirect inguinal hernia
What are the entrance and exit points of the inguinal canal?
Entrance - deep inguinal ring
Exit - superficial inguinal ring
Describe the surface anatomy of the deep inguinal ring.
1cm above the inguinal ligament
Between the midinguinal point and midpoint of the inguinal ligament
The deep inguinal ring is an invagination of which tissue?
Transversalis fascia
Which structure passes through the inguinal canal in males?
Spermatic cord
Which structure passes through the inguinal canal in females?
Round ligament of the uterus
Which structure passes though the inguinal canal in both genders?
Ilioinguinal nerve
What are the borders of the inguinal canal?
Floor - Inguinal ligament
Roof - Internal oblique
Anterior - External oblique aponeurosis
Posterior - Transversalis fascia
What forms the conjoint tendon?
Where is it located?
What is its function?
Aponeurosis of internal oblique and transversus abdominis
Behind the superficial inguinal ring
Prevents hernia formation
Which structure helps to guide gonadal descent?
Gubernaculum
The inguinal canal develops from which embryological structure?
Processus vaginalis
The round ligament of the uterus is a remnant of what?
Gubernaculum
A direct inguinal hernia presses directly onto what?
Superficial inguinal ring
A direct inguinal hernia can be caused by weakness in which 2 structures?
Conjoint tendon
Transversalis fascia
What are the borders of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Rectus abdominis
Inguinal ligament
Inferior epigastric artery
Which type of inguinal hernia occurs in Hesselbach’s triangle?
Direct inguinal hernia
Does an indirect hernia occur medial or lateral to the inferior epigastric artery?
Indirect inguinal hernias occur lateral to the inferior epigastric artery (outside Hesselbach’s triangle)
What are the 2 areas on the posterior abdominal wall where hernias can occur?
Superior lumbar triangle
Inferior lumbar triangle (Petit’s triangle)
What are the borders of the inferior lumbar triangle?
Iliac crest
Latissimus dorsi
External oblique
What are the border of the superior lumbar triangle?
Rib 12
Quadratus lumborum
Internal oblique
