Inguinal Region Flashcards
What is an inguinal ring?
Defect or opening in fascia that permits the passage of structures through the inguinal canal
There are superficial and deep rings found int he external oblique aponeurosis and transversalis fascia
What is the inguinal ligaments?
Also known as Poupart’s ligament
This is the foldered lower border of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
Forms the floor of the inguinal canal
What is the Lacunar ligament?
Medial extension of the inguinal ligament, which atatches to the pectineal line on the pubis
Continuous with the pectineal ligament
What is the femoral ring?
Forms the opening of the femoral canal, the small medial compartment for lymph vessels in the femoral sheath
Site of a femoral hernia
What is the pectineal ligament?
AKA Cooper’s Ligament
Thickening of the periosteum taht is continuous with the lacunar ligament at the pectineal line of the pubis
What is the conjoint tendon?
Formed by the fused aponeuroses of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles near their insertion on the pubis
What is the inguinal falx?
Generally considered synonymous with the conjoint tendon
Reinforces the posterior wall of the inguinal canal
What is the transversalis fascia?
Layer of abdominal wall taht lies deep to the anterolateral muscles and their aponeuroses
Forms entire posterior wall of the inguinal canal
What is the interfoveolar ligament?
AKA Hesselbach’s ligament
Fibromuscular extension of transversus abdominis fibers at the medial edge of the deep ingiunal ring
What is Hesselbach’s triangle or inguinal triangle?
Site of weakness in the abdominal wall vulnerable to a direct inguinal hernia
What are the boundaries of the inguinal canal?
Anterior - aponeurosis of EO muscle (entire canal), aponeurosis of IO muscle (lateral third of canal)
Posterior - transversalis fascia (entire canal), conjoint tendon (medial third)
Roof - muscle fibers and aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle and the aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis
Floor - Inguinal ligament (throughout canal), Lacunar ligament (medial third)
What structures are transmitted through the inguinal canal?
Male - spermatic cord and its components
Female - narrower canal transmits round ligament of uterus
Both - Ilioinguinal n. and genital branch of genitofemoral n.
What is the processus vaginalis?
Evagination of peritoneum into ventral abdominal wall that occurs independent of testes descent
Forms the inguinal canal and is normally obliterated between deep inguinal ring and superior testes
Part persists as tunica vaginalis, covering of the testis derived from parietal peritoneum
What is the Gubernaculum?
Condensed band of mesenchyme that extends from the lower pole of the developing gonad through the inguinal canal to the labioscrotal swelling
What is the dartos muscle?
Contracts in response to cold and reduces surface area of scrotal skin
Dartos layer is continuous with the fayyt Camper’s superficial fascia in the abdomen
What is the tunica albuginea?
Outer capsule around the testis
Fibrous septa extend from the inner surface and divide the testis into lobules
What are the seminiferous tubules?
Site of sperm production
Lie within the each lobule
What is the rete testis?
Network of canals that conduct sperm
What is the epididymis?
Sperm storage and maturation
Has a head, body, and tail
What arteries supply the testis?
Cremasteric (inferior epigastric branch)
Testicular (from abdominal aorta)
Artery of ductus deferens
What are the two layers of the tunica vaginalis?
Visceral - immediatley covers the tunica albuginea
Parietal - separated by a cavity of the tunica vaginalis
What is an indirect inguinal hernia?
Most common type of hernia in both children and adults, more frequent in males
Neck passes through deep inguinal ring
Enters inguinal canal lateral to inferior epigastric vessels
Cause is congenital from incomplete obliteration of processus vaginalis
What are direct inguinal hernias?
Occur in adults, commin in older men
Neck passes directly through the medial inguinal fossa
Enters inguinal canal medial to inferior epigastric vessels
What are femoral hernias?
Occur through the femoral ring
More common in women
Neck always lies below and lateral to the pubic tubercle
What is corona mortis?
Anatomical variant
Vascular connection between the obturator vessels and the inferior epigastric vessels
An aberrant obturator artery can branch from the inferior epigastric artery in the groin region
What is cryptorchidism?
Incomplete testes descent such that one or both testes remain in body cavity or inguinal canal
What is hydrocele?
Collection of fluid int estes or spermatic cord that can result from persistent processus vaginalis
Cannula is used to remove excess fluid through a process termed taping a hydrocele
What is varicocele?
Dilation and tortuous coursing of pampiniform plexus of testicular veins
Often results from defective valves in testicular vein
Usually occurs on the left
What is torsion of the testis?
Rotation of the testis around the spermatic cord within the scrotum
What is a vasectomy?
Surgical ligation of ductus deferens so that nor sperm are contained in ejaculated fluid
What is the cremasteric reflex?
Stroking medial aspect of thigh produces a reflex contraction of the cremaster muscle and ipsilateral eleavation of the testis and scrotum
Involves ilioinguinal (sensory) and genital branch of genitofemoral (motor)
