The inguinal ligament (), also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the
pubic tubercle to the
anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the
inguinal canal through which an
indirect inguinal hernia may develop.
Structure
The inguinal ligament runs from the
anterior superior iliac crest
The anterior superior iliac spine (abbreviated: ASIS) is a bony projection of the iliac bone, and an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis. It provides attachment for the inguin ...
of the
ilium
Ilium or Ileum may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions
* Ilion (Asia Minor), former name of Troy
* Ilium (Epirus), an ancient city in Epirus, Greece
* Ilium, ancient name of Cestria (Epirus), an ancient city in Epirus, Greece
* Ilium Building, a ...
to the
pubic tubercle of the
pubic bone. It is formed by the
external abdominal oblique
The abdominal external oblique muscle (also external oblique muscle, or exterior oblique) is the largest and outermost of the three flat abdominal muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen.
Structure
The external oblique is situated on the lateral ...
aponeurosis and is continuous with the
fascia lata of the thigh.
There is some dispute over the attachments.
Structures that pass deep to the inguinal ligament include:
*
Psoas major,
iliacus,
pectineus
The pectineus muscle (, from the Latin word ''pecten'', meaning comb) is a flat, quadrangular muscle, situated at the anterior (front) part of the upper and medial (inner) aspect of the thigh. The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor o ...
*
Femoral nerve,
artery, and
vein
*
Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
*Lymphatics
Function
The ligament serves to contain soft tissues as they course anteriorly from the trunk to the lower extremity. This structure demarcates the superior border of the
femoral triangle.
It demarcates the inferior border of the
inguinal triangle.
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.
The
external iliac arteries pass the inguinal ligament posteriorly and inferiorly.
History
It is also referred to as Poupart's ligament, because
François Poupart gave it relevance in relation to hernial repair, calling it "the suspender of the abdomen" (french: "le suspenseur de l'abdomen"). It is sometimes termed the
Fallopian ligament.
Colles' ligament is the reflex ligament and not the inguinal ligament.
[F. Poupart. Chirurgie complète. Paris, 1695.]
Additional images
File:Gray319.png, Ligaments of pelvis. Anterior view.
File:Gray321.png,
File:Gray393.png, The subcutaneous inguinal ring.
File:Gray545.png, Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments.
File:Gray547.png, The relations of the femoral and abdominal inguinal rings, seen from within the abdomen. Right side.
File:Gray549.png, The left femoral triangle.
File:Gray1036.png, Posterior view of the anterior abdominal wall in its lower half. The peritoneum is in place, and the various cords are shining through.
File:Slide1GGGGG.JPG, Inguinal ligament
File:Slide12LLLL.JPG, Inguinal ligament
See also
*
Pelvis
The pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton).
The ...
*
Apollo's belt: surface features associated with the inguinal ligaments
References
External links
* - "Deep muscles of the anterior thigh."
* - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Osteology and Surface Anatomy "
* - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: The Inguinal Ligament"
*
*
Diagram at gensurg.co.uk
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Ligaments