Femoral Triangle & Sheath

Question 1

Front

Answer 1

Back

Question 2

What are the boundaries of the femoral triangle?

Answer 2

Lateral: Medial border of sartorius. Medial: Medial border of adductor longus. Base: Inguinal ligament. Apex: Point where medial/lateral boundaries meet (continuous with adductor canal).

Question 3

What structures form the roof of the femoral triangle?

Answer 3

1. Skin. 2. Superficial fascia (contains superficial inguinal lymph nodes, femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve, branches of ilioinguinal nerve, superficial branches of femoral artery/veins). 3. Deep fascia (with saphenous opening and cribriform fascia).

Question 4

What structures form the floor of the femoral triangle?

Answer 4

Medially: Adductor longus and pectineus. Laterally: Iliacus and psoas major.

Question 5

List the contents of the femoral triangle.

Answer 5

1. Femoral artery & branches (3 superficial: superficial external pudendal, superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac; 3 deep: profunda femoris, deep external pudendal, muscular branches). 2. Femoral vein & tributaries (great saphenous vein, circumflex veins). 3. Femoral sheath. 4. Nerves (femoral nerve, nerve to pectineus, femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve, lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh). 5. Deep inguinal lymph nodes.

Question 6

What are the branches of the femoral artery in the triangle?

Answer 6

Superficial: 1. Superficial external pudendal. 2. Superficial epigastric. 3. Superficial circumflex iliac. Deep: 1. Profunda femoris (gives medial/lateral circumflex femoral arteries). 2. Deep external pudendal. 3. Muscular branches.

Question 7

Describe the femoral sheath.

Answer 7

Funnel-shaped fascia enclosing upper 3-4 cm of femoral vessels. Formed by extensions of abdominal fascia (anterior: fascia transversalis; posterior: fascia iliaca). Divided into 3 compartments: 1. Lateral (femoral artery + femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve). 2. Intermediate (femoral vein). 3. Medial (femoral canal).

Question 8

What is the femoral canal?

Answer 8

Medial compartment of femoral sheath. Contains: 1. Lymph node of Cloquet/Rosenmüller. 2. Lymphatics. 3. Areolar tissue. Drains: Glans penis (males) or clitoris (females).

Question 9

What are the boundaries of the femoral ring?

Answer 9

Anterior: Inguinal ligament. Posterior: Pectineus + fascia. Medial: Lacunar ligament. Lateral: Septum separating it from femoral vein. Closed by femoral septum (covered by parietal peritoneum).

Question 10

What is the clinical significance of the femoral canal?

Answer 10

Site of femoral hernias (more common in females due wider pelvis). The femoral ring is a potential weak point in the abdominal wall.

Question 11

What nerves are found in the femoral triangle?

Answer 11

1. Femoral nerve (lateral to femoral artery). 2. Nerve to pectineus (from femoral nerve). 3. Femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve (supplies skin). 4. Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh (crosses lateral angle).