Femoral Triangle

• Femoral triangle


  • A subfascial formation, a triangular landmark useful in dissection and in understanding relationships in the groin
  • Bounded superiorly by the inguinal ligament, medially by the lateral border of the adductor longus, and laterally by the sartorius
  • Muscular floor formed by the iliopsoas laterally and the pectineus medially
  • Roof formed by the fascia lata and cribriform fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and skin
• Contents of femoral triangle


  • Femoral nerve and its (terminal) branches
  • Femoral sheath and its contents: femoral artery and several of its branches, femoral vein and its proximal tributaries, deep inguinal lymph nodes and associated lymphatic vessels
• Femoral nerve


  The largest branch of the lumbar plexus, originates in the abdomen within the psoas major and descends posterolaterally through the pelvis to approximately the midpoint of the inguinal ligament, then passes deep to this ligament and enters the femoral triangle, lateral to the femoral vessels
• Saphenous nerve


  The terminal cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve, descends through the femoral triangle, lateral to the femoral sheath containing the femoral vessels
• Femoral vein


  • Lies posterolateral and then posterior to the femoral artery in the adductor canal
  • Receives the profunda femoris vein, the great saphenous vein, and other tributaries in the inferior part of the femoral triangle
• Femoral triangle


  Supero-anterior aspect of the thigh, not a prominent surface feature in most people, but may be delineated by the sartorius and adductor longus when sitting cross-legged
• Laceration of Femoral Artery

  The superficial position of the femoral artery in the femoral triangle makes it vulnerable to traumatic injury, especially laceration