Lecture 1: Femoral Triangle

Question 1

What are the superior, medial, and lateral borders of the Femoral Triangle?

Answer 1

Superior Border: Inguinal Ligament (forms the base)

Medial Border: Adductor Longus Muscle

Lateral Border: Sartorius Muscle

Apex formed where Adductor Longus and Sartorius cross

Question 2

What makes up the floor of the Femoral Triangle?

Answer 2

Iliacus and Psoas muscles (more lateral)

Pectineus Muscle (more medial)

Question 3

What makes up the roof of the Femoral Triangle?

Answer 3

Fascia Lata: Deep fascia of thigh

Cribiform Fascia: superficial to fascia lata

Subcutaneous Tissue: fat

Skin

Question 4

What is the retroinguinal space?

Answer 4

Space deep to inguinal ligament and is divided into two compartments

Muscular Compartment: Iliopsoas Muscle and Femoral Nerve

Vascular Compartment: Femoral Artery and Vein + Lymph Vessels

Question 5

Where does the Femoral Nerve first form?

Answer 5

Within the Psoas Minor Muscle

Question 6

What muscles does the Femoral Nerve supply?

Answer 6

1. Illiacus Muscle
2. Quadraceps Femoris (all four heads)
3. Sartorius Muscle
4. Pectineus Muscle (even though it is an adductor and part of medial compartment)
   * Basically all anterior thigh muscles*

Question 7

What spinal roots contribute to the Femoral Nerve?

Answer 7

L2-L4

Question 8

What does the Femoral Nerve cutaneously innervate?

Answer 8

Anterior Thigh

Part of Medial Thigh

Medial aspect of lower leg and ankle (as Saphenous Nerve)

Question 9

What is the femoral sheath?

What are its compartments?

Answer 9

Femoral sheath encloses femoral vessels deep to fascia lata

Lateral Compartment: Femoral Artery

Middle Compartment: Femoral Vein

Medial Compartment (Femoral Canal): Lymphatic Structures

Question 10

What gives rise to the Femoral Artery?

Where can you first see it?

Answer 10

From the External Iliac Artery

-First seen deep to Inguinal ligament, halfway between ASIS and pubic tubercle

Question 11

In Cardiac Catheterization procedures, what vasculature can be used to look at the heart muscles, chambers, and valves?

Answer 11

Femoral Artery and Femoral Vein

Question 12

What is the difference between Femoral ring and canal?

Answer 12

The Femoral Ring is the opening to the Femoral Canal

Where we find lymph structures

Question 13

What is a Femoral Hernia?

Is it more common in men or women?

Answer 13

Loop of intestine goes through Femoral Ring into Femoral Canal, forming a swelling in the upper part of the thigh

-Below and lateral to pubic tubercle

More common in women

Question 14

What is an Inguinal Hernia?

Is it more common in men or women?

Answer 14

GI tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles

-Above and medial to pubic tubercle

More common in men

Question 15

Where does the Saphenous Nerve branch off from?

Answer 15

Femoral Nerve

Question 16

What are some of the branches of the Femoral Artery?

Hint: Introduced to 7 in this lecture

Answer 16

​Important:

• Medial Femoral Circumflex Artery: Head and neck of the femur
• Lateral Femoral Circumflex Artery: Lateral thigh muscles
• Profunda Femoris: Hip join and three muscular compartments of thigh

Others:

• Superficial Epigastric Artery: supplies anterior abdominal wall/skin
• Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery: Lateral Thigh
• External Pudendal Artery: External Genitalia and Anal Canal

Question 17

What muscles and muscle groups are supplied by the Perforating Branches of the Deep Femoral Artery?

What compartment is each muscle in?

Answer 17

1. Vastus Lateralis (Anterior Compartment)
2. Adductor Magnus - Hamstring Portion (Medial Compartment)
3. True Hamstrings (Posterior Compartment)

Question 18

What branch of the Lateral Circumflex Femoral Artery supplies some blood to the Head of the Femur?

Answer 18

The Ascending Branch

Question 19

What provides the primary blood supply to the head and neck of the femur?

Answer 19

Posterior Retinacular Branches of the Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery

Acetabular branch of Obturator Artery can povide blood supply to ligament of head of femur

Question 20

What provides blood supply to the body of the Femur?

Answer 20

Perforating Branches of the Deep Femoral Artery

Question 21

The Great Saphenous Vein passes though the _____ to join the femoral vein

Answer 21

Saphenous Hiatus

Question 22

What regions of the lower extremity are drained by the Great Saphenous Vein?

Answer 22

Medial Thigh

Medial Leg

Dorsum of the Foot

Question 23

What might be damaged by a “cutdown” into the Great Saphenous Vein?

Answer 23

The Saphenous Nerve

Question 24

Where are the Deep Inguinal Lymph Nodes?

Where does it receive lymph from?

Answer 24

Inside the Femoral Canal and medial to Femoral Nerve

-Lymph comes from deep lymph vessels of lower limb, perineal region, and efferent vessels from Superficial Inguinal lymph nodes

Question 25

Where do the Deep Inguinal Lymph Nodes drain into?

Answer 25

Into the External Iliac Lymph Nodes

Question 26

What provides sensation to area 4?

Answer 26

Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve

Question 27

What provides sensation to area 5?

Answer 27

Cutaneous Branch of the Femoral Nerve

Question 28

What provides sensation to area 6?

Answer 28

Cutaneous Branch of the Obturator Nerve

Question 29

What provides sensation to area 7?

Answer 29

Saphenous Nerve