The femoral canal is the most medial compartment of the femoral sheath, medial to the femoral vein. It is approximately 1.5 cm long, containing loose connective tissue and lymphatics (Cloquet lymph node at its upper end). Its entrance at the femoral ring is bounded by the inguinal ligament anteriorly, the lacunar ligament medially, the iliopectineal ligament (pectineal fascia) posteriorly, and the femoral vein laterally.
| Location | Medial compartment of the femoral sheath, just below the inguinal ligament, about 1.5 cm long |
|---|---|
| Boundaries |
|
| Contents |
|
Gives the femoral vein room to expand and carries lymph vessels from the lower limb toward the pelvis. It is the path taken by a femoral hernia.
Femoral hernia protrudes through the femoral canal and femoral ring, emerging below and lateral to the pubic tubercle (distinguishing from inguinal hernia above the ligament). Femoral hernias are more common in females, more likely to strangulate (narrow neck), and require surgical repair. The lacunar ligament medial border of the ring must be divided to reduce an incarcerated femoral hernia, with care to avoid the aberrant obturator artery (corona mortis) passing over the pectineal surface.
A femoral hernia trapped in the narrow femoral ring with compromise of the bowel blood supply produces a tender irreducible femoral hernia below the inguinal ligament with signs of bowel obstruction; emergency surgical repair through inguinal or femoral approach with division of the lacunar ligament and bowel resection if non-viable.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
