The femoral triangle

Question 1

What is the femoral triangle?

Answer 1

An anatomical region in the proximal anterior thigh where large neurovascular structures pass through

Question 2

What forms the 3 borders of the femoral triangle?

SAIL

Answer 2

Sartorius muscle (lateral border) - its medial side
Adductor longus (medial border)
Inguinal ligament (superior border)

Question 3

What forms the roof and floor of the femoral triangle?

Answer 3

Roof = Fascia lata
Floor = Pectineus, iliopsoas and adductor longus

Question 4

What are the contents of the femoral triangle?

NAVEL / NAVY

Answer 4

From lateral to medial:

• Femoral nerve
• Femoral artery
• Femoral vein
• Empty space (femoral canal)
• Lymphatics (part of femoral canal)

Question 5

What does the femoral sheath envelope?

Answer 5

Femoral artery, vein and canal

-Femoral nerve is OUTSIDE

Question 6

What is the importance of the empty space in the femoral triangle?

Answer 6

To allow veins and lymph vessels to distend so they can cope at different levels of flow

Question 7

What is the adductor canal?

Answer 7

A narrow conical tunnel in the thigh from the apex of the femoral triangle to adductor hiatus (space between the adductor and hamstring compartment of adductor magnus)

Question 8

What does the adductor canal contain?

Answer 8

• Superficial femoral artery
• Femoral vein
• Nerve to vastus medialis
• Saphenous nerve

Question 9

What are the 2 important branches of the femoral nerve and what do they innervate?

Answer 9

• Anterior cutaneous branches (from femoral triangle) = skin on anteromedial thigh
• Saphenous nerve (terminal branch) = medial side of the leg and foot

Question 10

Describe the anterior division of the obturator nerve

Answer 10

• Descends anterior to adductor brevis and posterior to adductor longus
• Pierces the fascia lata to give cutaneous branch
• Innervates the skin of the middle part of medial thigh

Question 11

Describe the posterior division of the obturator nerve

Answer 11

• Descends through obturator externus

- Passes posterior to adductor brevis but anterior to adductor magnus