Inguinal ligament, lacuna vasorum et musculorum

Question 1

Inguinal ligament

Answer 1

• The reinforced inferior edge of the aponeurosis the external oblique abdominal muscle
• Between ASIS and the pubic tubercle
• Represents a boundary between the abdomen and the thigh (inguinal sulcus)

Question 2

Lacuna vasorum

Answer 2

• medial compartment beneath the inguinal ligament
• Contains (in a medial to lateral order): Rosenmuller lymph node, femoral vein, femoral artery, and femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve
• Separated from the muscular lacuna by the iliopectineal arch
• Boundaries are: the iliopectineal arch, the inguinal ligament, lacunar ligament and superior border of the pubis
• Lacunar ligament can be a site of entrapment for femoral hernias

Question 3

Iliopectineal arch

Answer 3

• Is a thickened band of fused iliac fascia and psoas fascia
• It passes from the posterior aspect of the inguinal ligament anteriorly across the front of the femoral nerve to attach to the iliopubic eminence of the hip bone posteriorly
• Forms a septum which subdivides the space deep to the inguinal ligament into a lateral muscular lacuna and a medial vascular lacuna

Question 4

Lacuna musculorum

Answer 4

• Is a lateral compartment of the thigh inferior to the inguinal ligament
• For the passage of the iliopsoas muscle, the femoral nerve and the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve
• It is separated by the iliopectineal arch from the vascular lacuna