Lecture 1: Femoral Triangle

Question 1

Where do the Deep Inguinal Lymph Nodes drain into?

Answer 1

Into the External Iliac Lymph Nodes

Question 2

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

Answer 2

The Saphenous Nerve

Question 3

Where does the Saphenous Nerve branch off from?

Answer 3

Femoral Nerve

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Femoral Artery and Femoral Vein

Question 5

What is the retroinguinal space?

Answer 5

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 6

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

Answer 6

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 7

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

Answer 7

Medial Thigh

Medial Leg

Dorsum of the Foot

Question 8

What provides blood supply to the body of the Femur?

Answer 8

Perforating Branches of the Deep Femoral Artery

Question 9

What spinal roots contribute to the Femoral Nerve?

Answer 9

L2-L4

Question 10

What is the difference between Femoral ring and canal?

Answer 10

The Femoral Ring is the opening to the Femoral Canal

Where we find lymph structures

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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 12

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

What compartment is each muscle in?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What provides sensation to area 7?

Answer 13

Saphenous Nerve

Question 14

Where are the Deep Inguinal Lymph Nodes?

Where does it receive lymph from?

Answer 14

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 15

What is the femoral sheath?

What are its compartments?

Answer 15

Femoral sheath encloses femoral vessels deep to fascia lata

Lateral Compartment: Femoral Artery

Middle Compartment: Femoral Vein

Medial Compartment (Femoral Canal): Lymphatic Structures

Question 16

Where does the Femoral Nerve first form?

Answer 16

Within the Psoas Minor Muscle

Question 17

What gives rise to the Femoral Artery?

Where can you first see it?

Answer 17

From the External Iliac Artery

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

Question 18

What does the Femoral Nerve cutaneously innervate?

Answer 18

Anterior Thigh

Part of Medial Thigh

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

Question 19

What provides sensation to area 5?

Answer 19

Cutaneous Branch of the Femoral Nerve

Question 20

What is a Femoral Hernia?

Is it more common in men or women?

Answer 20

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 21

What provides sensation to area 6?

Answer 21

Cutaneous Branch of the Obturator Nerve

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Saphenous Hiatus

Question 23

What muscles does the Femoral Nerve supply?

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

What makes up the floor of the Femoral Triangle?

Answer 24

Iliacus and Psoas muscles (more lateral)

Pectineus Muscle (more medial)

Question 25

What are some of the branches of the Femoral Artery?

Hint: Introduced to 7 in this lecture

Answer 25

​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 26

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

Answer 26

The Ascending Branch

Question 27

What is an Inguinal Hernia?

Is it more common in men or women?

Answer 27

GI tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles

-Above and medial to pubic tubercle

More common in men

Question 28

What provides sensation to area 4?

Answer 28

Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve

Question 29

What makes up the roof of the Femoral Triangle?

Answer 29

Fascia Lata: Deep fascia of thigh

Cribiform Fascia: superficial to fascia lata

Subcutaneous Tissue: fat

Skin