The Femoral Sheath Flashcards
What shape is the femoral sheath?
Funnel-shaped
What is the femoral sheath?
A fascial tube
How long is the femoral sheath?
Varying length, usually 3-4cm
Where does the femoral sheath pass?
Deep to the inguinal ligament
What does the femoral sheath line?
The vascular compartment of the retro-inguinal space
Where does the femoral sheath terminate?
Inferiorly by blending with the adventita to of the femoral vessels
What does the femoral sheath enclose?
The proximal part of the femoral vessels
What does the femoral sheath create?
The femoral canal medial to the femoral vessels
What is the femoral sheath formed by?
An inferior prolongation of transversalis and iliopsoas fascia from the abdomen
Does the femoral sheath enclose the femoral nerve?
No
Why does the femoral sheath not enclose the femoral nerve?
Because it passes through the muscular compartment
What happens when a long femoral sheath occurs?
Its medial wall is pierced by the great saphenous vein and its lymphatic vessel
What does the femoral sheath allow for?
The femoral artery and vein to glide deep to the inguinal ligament during movements of the hip joint
How is the femoral sheath lining the vascular compartment subdivided internally?
Into thee smaller compartments by vertical septa of extraperitoneal connective tissue that extends from the abdomen along the femoral vessels
What are the compartments of the femoral sheath?
Lateral compartment
Intermediate compartment
Medial compartment
What does the lateral compartment of the femoral sheath contain?
The femoral artery
What does the intermediate compartment of the femoral sheath contain?
The femoral vein
What does the medial compartment of the femoral sheath form?
The femoral canal
Describe the shape of the femoral canal
Conical, short (~1.25cm)
Where does the femoral sheath lie?
Between the medial edge of the femoral sheath and the femoral vein
Where does the femoral canal extend to?
Distally to the level of the proximal edge of the saphenous opening
What does the femoral canal allow for?
The femoral vein to expand when venous return from the lower limb is increased intra-abdominal pressure causes a temporary stasis in the vein
What does the femoral canal contain?
Loose connective tissue
Fat
A few lymphatic vessels
Sometime a deep inguinal lymph node (lacunar lymph node)
What is the base of the femoral canal?
The oval femoral ring formed by the small (approx 1cm) proximal opening at its abdominal end
What is the opening at the base of femoral canal closed by?
Extraperitoneal fatty tissue that forms the transversely orientated femoral septum
What is the abdominal surface of the femoral septum covered by?
The parietal peritoneum
What is femoral septum pierced by?
Lymphatic vessels
What do lymphatic vessels piercing the femoral septum do?
Connect the inguinal and external iliac lymph nodes
What are the boundaries of the femoral ring?
Laterally, the vertical septum between the femoral canal and femoral vein
Posteriorly, the superior ramus of the pubis covered by the pectineus muscle and its fascia
Medially, the lacunar ligament
Anteriorly, the medial part of the inguinal ligament
