Week 4- inguinal region and scrotum Flashcards
What is the inguinal canal? How long is it?
An oblique passage through the lower part of the anterior abdominal wall.
About 4cm long.
In males, what does the inguinal canal carry?
Structures to and from the testis.
Ilioinguinal nerve.
In females, what does the inguinal canal carry?
Carries the round ligament of the uterus.
Ilioinguinal nerve.
What forms the superficial inguinal ring?
A hole in the external oblique aponeurosis.
What do the margins of the superficial inguinal ring give rise to?
Margins (called crura-lateral and medial crus separately) give rise to the external spermatic fascia.
What forms the deep inguinal ring?
An oval opening in the transversalis fascia
How would you find the position of the deep inguinal ring?
Half way between the ASIS and pubic symphysis.
What structures would be found medial to the deep inguinal ring?
The inferior epigastric vessels.
What does the deep inguinal ring give origin too?
The internal spermatic fascia or round ligament fascia.
Describe the borders of the inguinal canal?
Anterior and floor of the inguinal canal is made up from the external oblique aponeurosis rolling over on itself. The medial end of the floor is the lacunar ligament too.
The roof is made from the internal oblique and transverses abdominus muscle
The deep/posterior surface is the transversalis fascia.
What forms the inguinal ligament?
External oblique aponeurosis rolling back on itself
Where does the lacunar ligament attach from/to?
From the medial end of the inguinal ligament it extends superiorly and posteriorly to the pectineal line (on the superior pubic ramus).
What does the free edge of the lacunar ligament form?
Medial margin of femoral ring.
(It also forms the periosteum of the pectineal line).
When does the inguinal canal flatten?
When the internal oblique and transverses abdominus muscles are contracting e.g. in coughing/sneezing.
When is a hernia indirect?
When it protrudes down the inguinal canal.
