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FemTri Checklist
Femoral Triangle
Femoral triangle
A triangular space at the upper end of the thigh. The "legs"
of the triangle are formed by the inguinal ligament, sartorius
muscle, and adductor longus muscle.
Inguinal ligament
A ligament extending from the anterior superior iliac spine to
the pubis bone. The inguinal ligament separates the
abdominal cavity from the thigh.
Femoral nerve
The femoral nerve enters the lateral part of the femoral
triangle and branches to supply the muscles of the anterior
thigh.
Femoral artery
Artery medial to the femoral nerve. It supplies blood to the
lower limb.
Femoral vein
Vein medial to the femoral artery. It returns blood from the
lower limb.
Lymph
Excess fluid entering tissues is removed from the tissue as
lymph, which is a clear, sometimes faintly yellow fluid.
Lymphatic vessels
Small tubes carrying lymph to the thoracic cavity where the
lymph enters the blood.
Lymph nodes
Small, round, or bean-shaped structures distributed along the
course of lymphatic vessels. They function to filter the
lymph.
Femoral sheath
Connective tissue enclosing the femoral artery, femoral vein,
and lymphatic tissue.
Compartments of the
femoral sheath
A lateral compartment containing the femoral artery.
A middle compartment containing the femoral vein.
A medial compartment called the femoral canal.
Femoral canal
The most medial compartment of the femoral sheath.
The femoral canal is a passageway through which lymphatic
vessels from the lower limb enter the abdominal cavity.
Less than half the lymphatic vessels pass through the femoral
canal. The others pass alongside the femoral artery and vein,
some inside and some outside the femoral sheath.
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Femoral ring
The superior opening of the femoral canal.
The femoral ring is normally covered by parietal peritoneum
and a delicate fibrous membrane.
Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia occurs when a loop of intestine pushes the
peritoneum and membrane into, or even completely through,
the femoral canal.
Application Questions
1. The larger the size of the femoral ring, the more likely it is that a femoral hernia can occur. Are
men or women more likely to develop femoral hernias? Explain.
2. Sometimes it is necessary to gain access to a coronary artery or the left side of the heart. For
example, in angioplasty a catheter (tube) is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to a blocked
coronary artery. The end of the catheter is then expanded, resulting in opening of the blocked
artery. The blood vessels in the femoral triangle are used for such procedures because they are
large and close to the surface. What femoral triangle blood vessel is used to reach a coronary
artery or the left side of the heart? Name in the correct order all the blood vessels, and their
parts, a catheter passes through to reach a coronary artery.
3. What femoral triangle blood vessel is used to reach the right side of the heart? Name in the
correct order all the blood vessels a catheter passes through to reach the right side of the heart.
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Application Answers
1. Women tend to have larger femoral rings than men because they have wider hips. As a result,
women tend to have femoral hernias about three times as often as men.
2. The femoral artery is used to reach a coronary artery or the left side of the heart. The catheter
passes through the following:
Femoral artery
External iliac artery
Common iliac artery
Abdominal aorta
Thoracic aorta
Aortic arch
Ascending aorta
3. The femoral vein is used to reach the right side of the heart. The catheter passes through the
following:
Femoral vein
External iliac vein
Common iliac vein
Inferior vena cava
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