Femoral Triangle

Femoral Triangle

1. Borders

   • (S)(A)(IL)
     • Sartorius
       • Lateral border of femoral triangle
         • The "Tailor's Muscle"
           • It is the longest muscle in the body
             • Acts to move legs into crossed position, but none of the actions are very strong. Therefore, it mainly acts as a synergist to help muscles that also produce those movements.
     • Adductor Longus
       • Lateral border of AL is medial border of femoral triangle
         • Large fan shaped muscle & most anterior of all adductors
           • Can easily be palpated
             • When sitting cross-legged, the sartorius and adductor longus stand out, delineating the femoral triangle
     • Inguinal Ligament
       • Superior border- base of femoral triangle
         • Poupart ligament
           • Superficial to the retro-inguinal space
             • Serves as retinaculum, holding structures that pass anterior to the hip to the joint during flexion of the thigh.

2. Contents

   • N[AV(EL)]- lateral to medial
     • []= contents in femoral sheath
       • Femoral Artery- Femoral Vein- Empty Space- Lymph Canal
         • Lateral Compartment: Femoral Artery
           • continuation of external iliac artery: distal to inguinal ligament
             • deep to midpoint of inguinal ligament (midway between ASIS and pubic tubercle)
               • Anterior aspect of proximal branches to: superior epigastric artery, superficial circumflex iliac artery, superficial and deep external pudenal arteries
         • Intermediate Compartment: Femoral Vein
           • Continuation of popliteal vein proximal to adductor hiatus
             • posterolateral and then posterior to femoral artery
               • Drains the profound femoris vein, the great saphenous vein and other tributaries
     • ()= contents in femoral canal
       • Empty Space & Lymph Canal
         • Medial Compartment= Femoral Canal:
           • Smallest of the 3 compartments
             • Extends distally to the level of the proximal edge of the saphenous opening
               • Contains:
                 • Deep Inguinal Lymph nodes (sometimes) and associated lymphatic vessels
                   • Lacunar Lymph Node
                 • Empty Space
                   • Allows the femoral vein to expand when venous return from lower limb is increased or when increased abdominal pressure causes a temporary blockage in the vein
     • Femoral Nerve
       • Largest branch of lumbar plexus
         • Originates in abdomen within psoas major and descends posterolaterally through pelvis to midpoint of inguinal ligament and deep to it into the femoral triangle lateral to the vessels
           • After femoral triangle, it branches to anterior thigh muscles, hip and knee joints, and several cutaneous branches of anteromedial side of thigh
             • Terminal cutaneous branch of femoral nerve is Saphenous nerve