MSK The femoral triangle and femoral canal

Question 1

Where the femoral triangle?

Answer 1

A hollow in the anterior thigh region

Question 2

What are the borders of the femoral triangle?

What makes up the floor and the roof?

Answer 2

Superior border- inguinal ligament
(runs from anterior superior iliac spine to pubis tubercle)

Lateral border - medial border of sartorius

Medial border - medial border of adductor longus
(the rest of the muscle forms the floor of the triangle)

The floor - adductor longus, pectineus, iliopsoas

The roof - fascia lata

Question 3

What are the contents of the femoral triangle?

Answer 3

Lateral to medial: NAVEL

Nerve (femoral)
Artery (femoral)
Vein (femoral)
Empty space for distension of veins and lymph vessels
Lymph canal (contained in the femoral canal)

Question 4

Where can you feel the femoral pulse and what is its significance?

Answer 4

Just inferior to where femoral artery crosses inguinal ligament
The femoral artery crosses exactly midway between pubic symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine
Presence of femoral pulse means blood is reaching the lower limb

Question 5

What clinical procedures is the femoral artery used for?

Answer 5

It is located superficially so easy to access
Used for coronary angiography where the femoral artery is catheterised with a thin tube which is navigated up the external iliac artery, common iliac artery, aorta and coronary vessels.
A radioactive dye is used

Femoral artery also catheterised for arterial blood gases

Question 6

What is a femoral hernia?

Answer 6

Part of the bowel pushes into the femoral canal underneath the inguinal ligament by protruding through the femoral ring
Manifests as a lump lateral to pubic tubercle - more common in women due to wider bony pelvis
The borders of femoral canal can compress the hernia interfering with its blood supply (strangulated hernia)

Requires surgery,

Question 7

What is the femoral canal?

Answer 7

Located in the anterior thigh and the smallest and most medial part of the femoral sheet
Within the femoral triangle

Question 8

What are the borders of the femoral canal?

Answer 8

Medial border - lacunar ligament
Lateral border - femoral vein
Anterior border - inguinal ligament
Posterior border - pectineal ligament, superior rami of pubis and pectineus muscle

Question 9

What is the opening of the femoral canal called and what is its purpose?

Answer 9

Locates on the superior border
It is called the femoral ring and is closed by a CT layer called the femoral septum
Lymphatic vessels exiting the canal pierce the femoral septum

Question 10

What are the contents of the femoral canal?

Answer 10

LDEL:
Lymphatic vessels - drain inguinal lymph nodes
Deep lymph node (the lacunar node)
Empty space (allows distension of femoral vein)
Loose CT