8.2.1
15
Femoral triangle and iliopectineal fossa – Trigonum femorale et fossa iliopectinea
The femoral triangle is a large superficial region lined with the femoral muscles and inguinal ligament. In its depth, the iliopectineal fossa is located. It is a direct continuation of both the muscular and vascular space. It narrows in its distal part and continues as a slit termed the adductor canal. Through the opening in the cribriform fascia it communicates with subcutaneous tissue in the saphenous opening, via which the great saphenous vein penetrates and empties into the common femoral vein.
• 1 Femoral triangle Boundaries: • 1.1 Proximally: inguinal ligament of Poupart • 1.2 Medially: adductor longus • 1.3 Laterally: sartorius • 2 Iliopectineal fossa Boundaries: • 2.1 Medially: pectineus • 2.2 Laterally: musculus iliopsoas
1.3 2 1.1
2.2 1
2.1 1.2
Common content
• 3 Femoral nerves and its branches • 4 Femoral artery and its branches • 5 Common femoral vein and its branches • 5.1 Saphenous opening
1.1
– an opening in the fascia lata for the great saphenous vein 5.2 Subinguinal venous confluence – tributary veins join the great saphenous vein 6 Obturator nerve and its branches 7 Obturator artery and vein 8 Femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve 9 Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh 10 Deep and superficial inguinal lymph nodes
9 1 2 3
• • •
8 5.1
4 5 10
Proximal part of the right thigh, anterior view
8.2.2
Adductor canal – Canalis adductorius
The adductor canal of Hunter connects the femoral triangle and popliteal fossa. It is found between the anterior and medial compartment of the thigh and superficially it is covered with the fascial vasto-adductor membrane. In its distal part it opens between two insertions of the adductor magnus as the adductor hiatus, within which the femoral vessels change into the popliteal vessels. The saphenous nerve and saphenous branch of the descending genicular artery perforate the vasto-adductor membrane and enter the subcutaneous tissue. Boundaries
• 1 Medially: adductor longus • 2 Laterally: vastus medialis • 3 Ventrally: vasto-adductor membrane • 4 Dorsally: adductor magnus Content
• 5 Femoral artery and vein • 6 Saphenous nerve
1
2 4
5 6
3
Right thigh, anterior view
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