The superior lumbar triangle, or Grynfeltt triangle, is a weak area in the posterior abdominal wall below the twelfth rib. It is bounded by the twelfth rib and serratus posterior inferior above, the internal oblique in front and the erector spinae behind, with the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis as its floor.
| Location | Posterior abdominal wall, just below the twelfth rib. |
|---|---|
| Boundaries |
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A natural gap in the muscular layers of the flank, important as a site of weakness.
Lumbar hernias are rare, but the superior triangle is their more common site. They present as a reducible lump in the flank, sometimes after kidney surgery or trauma. The triangle is also used as a surgical approach to the kidney and in some posterior abdominal wall nerve blocks.
Protrusion of fat or bowel through the superior lumbar triangle, causing a soft flank swelling that enlarges on coughing and may become incarcerated.
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