What is the function of inguinal canal?

The sole purpose of the inguinal canal is to provide a conduit that facilitates gonadal descent. In males, this results in the testes leaving the lumbar region of the posterior abdominal wall to enter the scrotal sac. In females, however, this means movement of the ovaries from the same area, to the pelvic region.

What is the inguinal canal in males?

The inguinal canal is a passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall located just above the inguinal ligament. It starts from the internal inguinal orifice, extends medially and inferiorly through the abdominal wall layers and ends in the external inguinal orifice. This canal is about four to six centimeters in length.

What is inguinal canal and inguinal hernia?

Inguinal hernias occur when part of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (omentum) or intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdomen — often along the inguinal canal, which carries the spermatic cord in men.

What moves down the inguinal canal?

The inguinal canal transmits vessels, nerves, lymphatics and the spermatic cord (round ligament in females) from the abdomen to the external genitalia.

What makes the inguinal canal?

The contents of the inguinal canal in males consist of the spermatic cord (with the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve) and the ilioinguinal nerve. For females, the contents include the round ligament, genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, and the ilioinguinal nerve.

What means inguinal?

1 : of, relating to, or situated in the region of the groin an inguinal rash. 2 : of or relating to either of the lowest lateral regions of the abdomen : iliac sense 2 the inguinal abdominal region.


Where is the inguinal?

The inguinal ligament is a set of two narrow bands in the inguinal area of the body (the groin). The groin is the fold where the bottom of the abdomen meets the inner thighs. The inguinal ligament connects the oblique muscles in the abdomen to the pelvis.

Where is my inguinal canal?

Inguinal canal – YouTube

Which is true of the inguinal canal?

Which is true of the inguinal canal? – The testes pass through it on their to the scrotum. – It contains a fold of peritoneum form the abdonminopelvic cavity. – It is a path through the groin.

What are the borders of the inguinal canal?

It is found within the aponeurosis of the external oblique, immediately above the pubic crest, 1 centimeter above and superolateral to the pubic tubercle. It has the following boundaries—medial crura by pubic crest, lateral crura by pubic tubercle and inferiorly by inguinal ligament.

Which nerve passes under the inguinal ligament?

The femoral nerve arises from the posterior divisions of ventral rami of L2, L3, and L4, passes through the pelvis, deep to the inguinal ligament, just lateral to the femoral artery and enters the femoral triangle where it supplies muscles and cutaneous innervation of the thigh.

Where is the deep inguinal ring?

Conclusions: The deep ring is located under a point just lateral to the MIP, which is the midpoint of a line drawn joining the ASIS and pubic symphysis.

What is a medial ring?

The superior crus (or medial, or internal pillar) is a broad, thin, flat band, attached to the front of the pubic symphysis and interlacing with its fellow of the opposite side.

What is inguinal exploration?

Conclusion: Inguinal exploration is an unreliable method of investigating the impalpable testis, with an unacceptably high incidence of false-negative or inconclusive findings. Laparoscopy should be undertaken as the initial diagnostic manoeuvre of choice.

What is femoral ring?

The femoral ring is the superior rounded opening of the conical femoral canal. Its boundaries are: medial: lacunar ligament. anterior: medial part of the inguinal ligament. lateral: femoral vein within the intermediate compartment of the femoral sheath.

How do you remember the inguinal canal?

A helpful mnemonic to remember the walls of the inguinal canal is: MALT: (2M, 2A, 2L, 2T)

How is inguinal hernia surgery done?

For open hernia repair surgery, a single long incision is made in the groin. If the hernia is bulging out of the abdominal wall (a direct hernia), the bulge is pushed back into place. If the hernia is going down the inguinal canal (indirect), the hernia sac is either pushed back or tied off and removed.

What are the types of hernia?

A hernia is a bulge caused by tissue pushing through the wall of muscle that’s holding it in. Most hernias are abdominal hernias.

Types of hernias include:

  • Inguinal hernia.
  • Femoral hernia.
  • Umbilical hernia.
  • Incisional hernia.
  • Epigastric hernia.
  • Hiatal hernia.

Is walking good for hernia?

Gentle Walks

After any kind of hernia, walking can help keep your muscles strong and help reduce your risk of complications. This is especially true of surgeries on your abdomen. Walking helps your organs return to their proper place.

What is an inguinal mass?

Introduction. Inguinal masses in women are rare entities, located in the groin area where the upper leg meets with the lower part of the abdomen. The swelling is generally confined to a small area and can be portrayed as hard, soft, sensitive, or not painful at all.

What is midpoint of inguinal ligament?

The midpoint of the inguinal ligament, halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle, is the landmark for the femoral nerve. The mid-inguinal point, halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis, is the landmark for the femoral artery.

Can you feel the inguinal ring?

The index finger enters the inguinal canal along the course of the cord structures. The size of the superficial ring can be felt by palpating just lateral to the pubic tubercle.

Why inguinal hernia is more common in males?

Although it can occur in men and women, it is much more common in men. This is because the male testicle starts inside the abdomen and has to go down through an opening in the groin area to reach the scrotum (the sac that holds the testicles). If this opening does not close at birth, a hernia develops.

What organs are located in the inguinal region?

These include the liver, stomach, and intestines. The groin is the area in the body where the upper thighs meet the lowest part of the abdomen. Normally, the abdomen and groin are kept separate by a wall of muscle and tissue. The only openings in the wall are small tunnels called the inguinal and femoral canals.

What is the area above your groin called?

The pelvic region is the area between the trunk — or main body — and the lower extremities, or legs. The male pelvis is different from a female’s. The pelvic bones are smaller and narrower.

How is linea alba formed?

The linea alba (Latin for white line) is a single midline fibrous line in the anterior abdominal wall formed by the median fusion of the layers of the rectus sheath medial to the bilateral rectus abdominis muscles. It attaches to the xiphoid process of the sternum and the pubic symphysis.

What is the inguinal triangle?

The Hesselbach triangle, also called the inguinal triangle, is a region of the lower, anterior abdominal wall, or groin, that was first described by Frank Hesselbach, a German surgeon and anatomist, in 1806. It describes a potential area of weakness in the abdominal wall, through which a hernia can protrude.

What enters the deep inguinal ring?

The genital branch enters the inguinal canal through the deep inguinal ring. It supplies motor fibers to the cremasteric muscle and sensory fibers to the skin over the male scrotum and to the female mons pubis and labia majora.

What is the inguinal ligament made of?

The inguinal ligament is formed by the lower border of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle, which is thickened and folded on itself. Its lateral half runs obliquely, while the medial half is almost horizontal.

Does the ilioinguinal nerve pass through the inguinal canal?

At the anterior end of the iliac crest the ilioinguinal nerve pierces the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles to enter the inguinal canal from the side, not through the deep ring.

How does ilioinguinal nerve enters inguinal canal?

Upon its origin, the nerve passes posterior to the psoas major and then emerges to the anterior surface of the quadratus lumborum. … After piercing the transversus abdominis, the ilioinguinal nerve also passes through the internal oblique muscle to enter the inguinal canal.

What does ilioinguinal nerve pain feel like?

Ilioinguinal nerve pain or neuralgia is a common condition that causes lower abdominal and pelvic pain. It mainly manifests itself as a burning pain and numbness that radiates from the lower abdomen, through the genitalia, to the inner thigh.

Where is the mid-inguinal point?

The mid-inguinal point (MIP) is located on the inguinal ligament, halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the pubic symphysis. It is not to be confused with the midpoint of the inguinal ligament itself, which is located halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle.

What is genitofemoral nerve?

The genitofemoral nerve arises from the lumbar plexus. It supplies sensation to the skin of the anterior scrotal area in males, mons pubis in females, and the upper segment of the anterior thigh in both males and females.

What is Pyramidalis muscle?

Pyramidalis is a small triangular muscle located anterior to the lower part of rectus abdominis muscle within the rectus sheath. … The muscle decreases in size as it runs upwards and ends as a pointed apex that is attached to the linea alba midway between umbilicus and pubis but can extend to a higher level.

What is Iliopubic tract?

The iliopubic tract is a thickened band of fibers curving over the external iliac vessels, at the spot where they become femoral, on the abdominal side of the inguinal ligaments and loosely connected with it.