The femoral sheath is a funnel-shaped fascial sleeve below the inguinal ligament formed by extensions of the transversalis fascia (anterior wall) and the iliacus fascia (posterior wall). It encloses the femoral artery and vein in two lateral compartments and is divided into three sections: the lateral compartment (femoral artery), the intermediate compartment (femoral vein), and the medial compartment (femoral canal). The femoral nerve lies lateral to and outside the sheath.
| Location | Upper front of the thigh, a funnel of fascia extending 3-4 cm below the inguinal ligament |
|---|---|
| Boundaries |
|
| Contents |
|
Wraps the upper femoral vessels so they can slide during hip movement while staying separate from one another. The femoral nerve lies outside it, laterally.
The femoral sheath is the fascial compartment accessed for common femoral artery and vein cannulation. The sheath is opened to access the vessels for ECMO, IABP, arteriovenous access for dialysis, and cardiac catheterisation. In vascular surgery, the femoral sheath is opened for femoral endarterectomy, bypass anastomosis, and femoral artery aneurysm repair. The sheath is encountered during femoral hernia repair as the medial compartment (femoral canal) is the hernia passage.
Bleeding from inadequately sealed femoral arterial access accumulates within the femoral sheath, producing a contained haematoma that compresses the femoral vein causing leg swelling, or may track proximally to the retroperitoneum if the sheath is disrupted; managed by direct pressure, ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for pseudoaneurysm, or surgical control.
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.
