Femoral sheath

Femoral sheath
Femoral sheath
	Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments.
	Structures passing behind the inguinal ligament.
	Anatomical terminology

The femoral sheath, also called the crural sheath, is a continuation of the abdominal fascia that is contained in the femoral triangle. It forms the femoral canal, allowing for the femoral artery and the femoral vein to travel between the abdomen and the thigh.

Structure

The femoral sheath is formed by a prolongation downward, behind the inguinal ligament, of the abdominal fascia, the transverse fascia being continued down in front of the femoral vessels and the iliac fascia behind them. The femoral sheath is contained in the femoral triangle.

The sheath assumes the form of a short funnel, the wide end of which is directed upward, while the lower, narrow end fuses with the fascial investment of the vessels, about 4 cm. below the inguinal ligament.

It is strengthened in front by a band termed the iliopubic tract.

The lateral wall of the sheath is vertical and is perforated by the lumboinguinal nerve; the medial wall is directed obliquely downward and lateralward.

The sheath is divided by two vertical partitions which stretch between its anterior and posterior walls:

The lateral compartment contains the femoral artery, and the femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve.^[1]
The intermediate compartment contains the femoral vein.^[1]
The medial (and smallest) compartment is named the femoral canal, and contains some lymphatic vessels and a lymph gland embedded in a small amount of areolar tissue.

The femoral canal is conical, and measures about 1.25 cm. in length. Its base, directed upward and named the femoral ring, is oval in form, its long diameter being directed transversely and measuring about 1.25 cm.

Relations

The spermatic cord in the male and the round ligament of the uterus in the female lie immediately above the anterior margin of the ring, while the inferior epigastric vessels are close to its upper and lateral angle.

The femoral ring is closed by a somewhat condensed portion of the extraperitoneal fatty tissue, named the septum femorale (crural septum), the abdominal surface of which supports a small lymph gland and is covered by the parietal peritoneum.

The septum femorale is pierced by numerous lymphatic vessels passing from the deep inguinal to the external iliac lymph glands, and the parietal peritoneum immediately above it presents a slight depression named the femoral fossa.

Function

The femoral sheath allows for the femoral artery and the femoral vein to pass between the abdomen and the thigh.

History

The femoral sheath is also known as the crural sheath.

Additional Images

Femoral sheath

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 625 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1 2 "Femoral nerve "sheath" for inguinal paravascular lumbar plexus block is not found in human cadavers". Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 7 (6): 470–473. 1995-09-01. doi:10.1016/0952-8180(95)00055-M. ISSN 0952-8180.

External links

Photo and overview at gla.ac.uk
antthigh at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
Diagram at washington.edu

This article is issued from Offline. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[:0-1] 1 2 "Femoral nerve "sheath" for inguinal paravascular lumbar plexus block is not found in human cadavers". Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 7 (6): 470–473. 1995-09-01. doi:10.1016/0952-8180(95)00055-M. ISSN 0952-8180.

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