Femoral Canal

Question 1

What is the femoral canal?

Answer 1

An anatomical compartment, that is the smallest and most medial part of the femoral sheath

Question 2

Where is the femoral canal located?

Answer 2

In the anterior thigh

Question 3

How long is the femoral canal?

Answer 3

~1.3cm

Question 4

What can the femoral canal be thought of as?

Answer 4

A rectangular shaped compartment

Question 5

What are the borders of the femoral canal?

Answer 5

Medial Lateral
Anterior
Posterior

Question 6

What forms the medial border of the femoral canal?

Answer 6

Lacunar ligament

Question 7

What forms the lateral border of the femoral canal?

Answer 7

Femoral vein

Question 8

What forms the anterior border of the femoral canal?

Answer 8

Inguinal ligament

Question 9

What forms the posterior border of the femoral canal?

Answer 9

Pectineal ligament, superior rami of the pubi, and the pectineus muscle

Question 10

Where is the opening to the femoral canal located?

Answer 10

At its superior border

Question 11

What is the opening of the femoral canal known as?

Answer 11

The femoral ring

Question 12

What is the femoral ring closed by?

Answer 12

A connective tissue layer called the femoral septum

Question 13

What is the femoral septum pierced by?

Answer 13

The lymphatic vessels exiting the canal

Question 14

What does the femoral canal contain?

Answer 14

Lymphatic vessels
Deep lymph node
Empty space
Loose connective tissue

Question 15

What do the lymphatic vessels of the femoral canal do?

Answer 15

Drain the deep inguinal lymph nodes

Question 16

What is the deep lymph node of the femoral canal?

Answer 16

The lacunar node

Question 17

What does the empty space in the femoral canal allow for?

Answer 17

Distension of the adjacent femoral vein

Question 18

Why is distension of the adjacent femoral vein important?

Answer 18

So it can cope with increased venous return, or increased intra-abdominal pressure

Question 19

Why is the femoral canal of particular clinical importance?

Answer 19

It is a common site of bowel herniation

Question 20

What happens in a femoral hernia?

Answer 20

A part of the small intestine protrudes through the femoral ring

Question 21

How does a femoral hernia present?

Answer 21

As a lump situated inferolaterally to the pubic tubercle

Question 22

Who is a femoral hernia more common in?

Answer 22

Women, due to their wider bony pelvis

Question 23

What is a hernia with a compromised blood supply known as?

Answer 23

A strangulated hernia

Question 24

Why can a femoral hernia become strangulated?

Answer 24

The borders of the femoral canal are tough, and not particularly extendible, which can compress the hernia, interfering with the blood supply