MSK - The Femoral Triangle Flashcards
Why is the femoral triangle an area of both clinical and anatomial importance?
Many large neurovascular structures pass through this area and can be accessed relatively easily
How many borders does the femoral triangle have?
What are their names?
**3 **(It’s the Femoral Triangle)
Superior Border
Lateral Border
Medial Border
What makes up the Superior Border of the Femoral Triangle?
Formed by the Inguinal Ligament
The Inguinal Ligament runs from the ASIS (Anterior Superior Iliac Spine) to the pubis tubercle
It also acts as a flexor retinaculum, supporting the contens of the femoral triangle during flexion at the hip
What makes up the lateral border of the Femoral Triangle?
Medial border of the **Sartorius **muscle
What forms the medial border of the Femoral Triangle?
Medial Border of the Adductor Longus
Anteriorly, what frms the roof of the Femoral Triangle?
Fascia Lata
Posteriorly, what forms the base of the Femoral Triangle?
Pectineus, Iliopsoas and adductor longus muscles
What are the contents of the Femoral Triangle?
From Lateral to Medial:
Femoral Nerve
Femoral Artery
Femoral Vein
Femoral Canal
(Good way of remembering is using the acronym NAVEL
What does the Femoral Nerve innervate?
Where does it provide sensory branches for?
Innervates anterior compartment of the thigh
Provides sensory branches for the leg and foot
What is contained in the Femoral Canal?
Deep lymph nodes and vessels
What is contained within the **Femoral Sheath? **
Femoral Artery, Vein and Canal
Where can the **Femoral Pulse **be felt?
Where does it cross?
What does it mean if it can be felt?
Just inferior to where the **femoral artery **crosses the inguinal ligament
crosses exactly midway between the **pubis symphysis **and anteior superior iliac spine
Means blood is reaching lower extremity
Why is the **femoral artery **easy to access?
Runs superficially
What procedure can be performed via the femoral artery?
Describe the procedure
Coronary Angiography
“One such procedure is coronary angiography. Here, the femoral artery is catheterised with a long, thin tube. This tube is navigated up the external iliac artery, common iliac artery, aorta, and into the coronary vessels. A radioactive dye is then ejected into the coronary vessels, and any wall thickening or blockages can be visualised via x-ray imaging”
The femoral artery can be catherised to draw blood for what?
Arterial blood gases
What has happened here?
How is it treated?
Femoral Hernia
Part of the bowel has pushed into the femoral canal underneath the inguinal ligament
Treated with surgery
