Inguinal canal, Hesselbach triangle, femoral canal Flashcards
What is the inguinal canal?
Short passageway going infero-medially through the inferior part of the abdominal wall
Where is the inguinal canal located?
Inferior part of abdominal wall
superior to inguinal ligament
What are the walls of the inguinal canal?
Anterior wall
Posterior wall
Roof
Floor
What is the anterior wall of the inguinal canal?
Aponeurosis of external oblique
What is the posterior wall of the inguinal canal?
Transversalis fascia
Conjoint tendon medially
What forms the roof of the inguinal canal?
Internal oblique muscle
Transversus abdominis muscle
What forms the floor of the inguinal canal?
Inguinal ligament (rolled up external oblique aponeurosis)
Lacunar ligament medially
What are the openings of the inguinal canal?
Superficial ring
Deep ring
What is the superficial ring of the inguinal canal?
Opening in aponeurosis of external oblique
Where is the superficial ring of the inguinal canal located?
Superior to pubic tubercle
What is the deep ring of the inguinal canal?
Opening in transversalis fascia
Where is the deep ring of the inguinal canal located?
Above the midpoint of the inguinal ligament
Lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels
What are the contents of the inguinal canal?
Males - spermatic cord
Females - round ligament of uterus
What is the role of inguinal canal in male development?
Testes move from abdomen, through inguinal canal, to the scrotum
What does the inguinal canal contain during male development?
Gubernaculum
Processus vaginals
What is the processus vaginalis?
Pouch of peritoneum
What happens to the processus vaginalis during development?
Part of it is pinched off and forms the tunica vaginalis
Rest of it obliterates
What does an incompletely obliterated processus vaginalis lead to?
Increased risk of indirect inguinal hernia
What is the conjoint tendon?
Internal oblique and transversus abdominis aponeuroses
What is Hesselbach’s triangle?
Triangular area in anterior abdominal wall
What are the borders of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Superior
Inferior
Medial
What is the superior border of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Inferior epigastric vessels
What is the inferior border of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Inguinal ligament
What is the medial border of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Lateral border of rectus abdominis muscle
Where is the femoral canal located?
Medial part of femoral sheath
What are the borders of the femoral canal?
Anterior
Medial
Lateral
What is the anterior border of the femoral canal?
Inguinal ligament
What is the medial border of the femoral canal?
Lacunar ligament
What is the lateral border of the femoral canal?
Femoral vein
What is the opening to the femoral canal?
Femoral ring
Where is the femoral ring located?
Superiorly to the femoral canal
What are the contents of the femoral canal?
Empty space
Lymphatics
Loose connective tissue
