Anatomy of Inguinal Canal

Group F

The INGUINAL CANAL is an oblique
intermuscular slit lying above the medial
half of the Inguinal Ligament

It commences at the Deep Inguinal Ring
and terminates at the Superficial Inguinal
Ring
The Superficial Inguinal Ring is an
oblique traingular gap in the aponeurosis
of the External Oblique Abdominal
Muscle located just superolateral to the
Pubic Tubercle. The base of the gap is
the Pubic Crest and the margins are the
crura of the ring.


The Deep Inguinal Ring is an opening in
the Transversalis Fascia that lies about
1.25 cm above the midpoint of the Inguinal
Ligament.

Walls of Inguinal Canal
Anterior Wall: External Oblique Aponeurosis,
assisted laterally by Internal Oblique Muscle.

Posterior Wall: Weak Transversalis Fascia
throughout, strong Conjoint Tendon medially.

Roof: Lower edges of Internal Oblique and
Transversus Abdominis.

Floor: Inrolled lower edge of the Inguinal
ligament, reinforced medially by Lacunar
Ligament.







Structures that pass through the
Inguinal Canal
Males: The Spermatic Cord (Vas Deferens,
Testicular Artery & accompanying Veins,
obliterated remains of Processus Vaginalis,
Genital Branch of Genitofemoral Nerve,
Autonomic Nerves, Lymphatics).

Females: Obliterated Processus Vaginalis,
Round Ligament & Lymphatics from the
Uterus.
Note: The Ilio-inguinal Nerve, although a content of the Inguinal Canal,
does not enter the canal through the deep ring, but by piercing the
Internal Oblique Abdominal Muscle.
Structures Deep to the
Transversalis Fascia
Inferior Epigastric Artery located at the
medial edge of the Deep Inguinal Ring.
The Vas Deferens in Males; Round
Ligament in Females.
The Inguinal Triangle (Hasselbachs Triangle) is
a area bounded laterally by the Inferior Epigastric
Artery, medially by the lateral border of Rectus
Abdominis, and below by the Inguinal Ligament.







Hernias of the Inguinal Region
Inguinal Hernias
occur when soft
tissue, usually
part of the
intestines,
protrudes
through a weak
point or tear in
the abdominal
wall
Direct Hernia: The
Hernial Sac passes
medial to the Inferior
Epigastric Artery,
through Hasselbachs
Triangle.

Indirect Hernia: The
Hernial Sac passes
lateral to the Inferior
Epigastric Artery,
through the Deep
Inguinal Ring.





Course of Hernia
Direct Hernia: Passes through or around
Inguinal Canal

Indirect Hernia: Transverses Inguinal
Canal
Exit of Hernia from Anterior
Abdominal Wall
Direct Hernia: Via Superficial Inguinal
Ring, lateral to Spermatic Cord (rarely
enters Scrotum)

Indirect Hernia: Via Superficial Inguinal
Ring inside the Spermatic Cord
(commonly passes into Scrotum/Labium
Majus)