The Femoral Sheath

Question 1

What shape is the femoral sheath?

Answer 1

Funnel-shaped

Question 2

What is the femoral sheath?

Answer 2

A fascial tube

Question 3

How long is the femoral sheath?

Answer 3

Varying length, usually 3-4cm

Question 4

Where does the femoral sheath pass?

Answer 4

Deep to the inguinal ligament

Question 5

What does the femoral sheath line?

Answer 5

The vascular compartment of the retro-inguinal space

Question 6

Where does the femoral sheath terminate?

Answer 6

Inferiorly by blending with the adventita to of the femoral vessels

Question 7

What does the femoral sheath enclose?

Answer 7

The proximal part of the femoral vessels

Question 8

What does the femoral sheath create?

Answer 8

The femoral canal medial to the femoral vessels

Question 9

What is the femoral sheath formed by?

Answer 9

An inferior prolongation of transversalis and iliopsoas fascia from the abdomen

Question 10

Does the femoral sheath enclose the femoral nerve?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Why does the femoral sheath not enclose the femoral nerve?

Answer 11

Because it passes through the muscular compartment

Question 12

What happens when a long femoral sheath occurs?

Answer 12

Its medial wall is pierced by the great saphenous vein and its lymphatic vessel

Question 13

What does the femoral sheath allow for?

Answer 13

The femoral artery and vein to glide deep to the inguinal ligament during movements of the hip joint

Question 14

How is the femoral sheath lining the vascular compartment subdivided internally?

Answer 14

Into thee smaller compartments by vertical septa of extraperitoneal connective tissue that extends from the abdomen along the femoral vessels

Question 15

What are the compartments of the femoral sheath?

Answer 15

Lateral compartment
Intermediate compartment
Medial compartment

Question 16

What does the lateral compartment of the femoral sheath contain?

Answer 16

The femoral artery

Question 17

What does the intermediate compartment of the femoral sheath contain?

Answer 17

The femoral vein

Question 18

What does the medial compartment of the femoral sheath form?

Answer 18

The femoral canal

Question 19

Describe the shape of the femoral canal

Answer 19

Conical, short (~1.25cm)

Question 20

Where does the femoral sheath lie?

Answer 20

Between the medial edge of the femoral sheath and the femoral vein

Question 21

Where does the femoral canal extend to?

Answer 21

Distally to the level of the proximal edge of the saphenous opening

Question 22

What does the femoral canal allow for?

Answer 22

The femoral vein to expand when venous return from the lower limb is increased intra-abdominal pressure causes a temporary stasis in the vein

Question 23

What does the femoral canal contain?

Answer 23

Loose connective tissue
Fat
A few lymphatic vessels
Sometime a deep inguinal lymph node (lacunar lymph node)

Question 24

What is the base of the femoral canal?

Answer 24

The oval femoral ring formed by the small (approx 1cm) proximal opening at its abdominal end

Question 25

What is the opening at the base of femoral canal closed by?

Answer 25

Extraperitoneal fatty tissue that forms the transversely orientated femoral septum

Question 26

What is the abdominal surface of the femoral septum covered by?

Answer 26

The parietal peritoneum

Question 27

What is femoral septum pierced by?

Answer 27

Lymphatic vessels

Question 28

What do lymphatic vessels piercing the femoral septum do?

Answer 28

Connect the inguinal and external iliac lymph nodes

Question 29

What are the boundaries of the femoral ring?

Answer 29

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