Week 4: Nerve & Blood Vessels of Thigh & Hip

Question 1

Describe the location of the femoral triangle:

Answer 1

• Located at the junction of the anterior abdominal wall and the lower limb
• Apex points inferiorly and is continuous with the adductor canal
• Adductor canal descends medially through the thigh - its distal hiatus in the tendon of adductor magnus opens into the popliteal fossa

Question 2

What structure forms the base of the femoral triangle?

Answer 2

Inguinal ligament

Question 3

What muscles form the borders of the femoral triangle?

Answer 3

• Medial: Medial margin of adductor longus
• Lateral: Medial margin of sartorius
• Floor: Pectineus and adductor longus (medial) and iliopsoas (lateral)

Question 4

Which neurovascular structures lie within the femoral triangle?

Answer 4

• From lateral to medial - femoral Nerve, Artery and Vein
• Also contains the deep inguinal lYmph nodes
  (NAVY)

Question 5

What superficial vein enters the femoral triangle?

Answer 5

• The great saphenous vein - drains into the femoral vein through the saphenous opening)
• Accompanied by lymphatics

Question 6

What type of medical procedures may require access to the femoral vein and artery?

Answer 6

1. Femoral vein - can allow catheters to be maneuvered into renal and gonadal veins, right atrium, right side of heart, pulmonary artery
2. Femoral artery - pass catheters through to reach the coronary arteries (to perform angiograms and angioplasties)
3. Radiological procedures - catheterisation to access limbs, thorax, abdomen

Question 7

Which vessels pass through the adductor canal?

Answer 7

1. Femoral artery and vein
2. The saphenous nerve (cutaneous, off femoral)
3. Nerve to vastus medialis (in the upper part of the canal)
4. Pass through the hiatus in adductor magnus to enter the posterior aspect of thigh (popliteal space)
   - The vessels are then called the popliteal artery and vein

Question 8

What is the Pes Anserinus?

Answer 8

• Forms the distal site of insertion for the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus muscles (from anterior to posterior)

Question 9

What are the 3 branches of the internal iliac artery?

Answer 9

1. Superior gluteal artery
2. Inferior gluteal artery
3. Obturator artery