GI - Pre Practical

Question 1

What is the contents of the inguinal canal?

Answer 1

Spermatic cord

Round ligament of the uterus in females

(Also contains blood, lymphatic vessels and ilioinguinal nerve in both the sexes)

Question 2

What is the difference between a direct and an indirect hernia?

Answer 2

Indirect - abdominal contents push through the abdominal wall into the scrotum. Follows the path of the spermatic chord through the deep inguinal ring and then through the superficial ring. Hernia is lateral to the inferior epigastric artery.

Most common. Young indivduals. Congenital weakness.

Direct - abdominal contents pass into the inguinal canal without entering through the deep inguinal ring.

Hernia is medial to the inferior epigastric artery. Within hesselbach’s triangle (Inguinal ligament, rectus abdominis, inferior epigastric artery) Result because of weakness in the floor of the inguinal canal. Only passes through the superficial ring.

More common in old people