Lecture 2 : Femoral Triangle

By
Hermizan Halihanafiah
 Femoral Triangle
Triangular area
Located at
superomedial one
third part of the
thigh.
The Boundaries
It is bounded by:
1. Superiorly by
inguinal ligament
2. Medially by medial
border of the
adductor longus
muscle.
3. Laterally by medial
border of the
sartorius muscle.
 The Boundaries
 The floor of the femoral
triangle is not flat but
gutter – shaped
 Its formed from medial
to lateral:
1. Adductor longus
2. Pectineus
3. Iliopsoas
 Its roof is formed by
the fascia lata (deep
fascia).
Contents :
the femoral nerve
(not contained
within the femoral
sheath)
the femoral artery
the femoral vein
and great
saphenous vein
Inguinal lymph
nodes (deep group)
and associated
lymphatic vessels
 Clinical Relevance if
Femoral Triangle
Femoral Pulse
Just inferior to where the femoral artery crosses the
inguinal ligament, it can be palpated to measure the
femoral pulse.
The femoral artery crosses exactly midway between
the pubis symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine.
The presence of a femoral pulse means that blood is
reaching the lower extremity
The femoral pulse can
easily be palpated in the
femoral triangle, 2 to 3 cm
inferior to the midpoint of
the inguinal ligament.
The head of the femur lies
posterior to the femoral
artery at this site, making
compression of the vessel
easy.
 Clinical Relevance if
Femoral Triangle
Access to the Femoral Artery
The femoral artery is located superficially within the
femoral triangle, and is thus easy to access. This makes it
suitable for a range of clinical procedures.
One such procedure is coronary angiography. Here, the
femoral artery is catheterised with a long, thin tube.
This tube is navigated up the external iliac artery,
common iliac artery, aorta, and into the coronary vessels.
A radio-opaque dye is then injected into the coronary
vessels, and any wall thickening or blockages can be
visualised via x-ray.
Clinical significance

Heavy bleeding in the leg can be stopped

by applying pressure to points in the
femoral triangle
Allows for femoral venipuncture.
Summary of Femoral Triangle
Muscles that Move the Hip Joint
 Fascial Compartment
of the Thigh
 Thigh muscles basically enclosed by dense of fibrous tissue known as
a deep fascia (fascia lata)
 Thigh region consist of three muscles compartment divide by
intermuscular septa (extension of fascia lata):
i. Anterior compartment
ii. Medial compartment
iii.Posterior compartment

 Each compartment have the similarities of:

i. Nerve supply
ii. Blood supply
iii.Actions
Muscles that Move the Hip Joint
Hip Extensor
Hip Flexor
1. Gluteus maximus
1. Psoas major
2. Hamstring
2. Iliacus
1. Biceps femoris
3. Pectineus
2. Semitendinosus
4. Rectus femoris
3. semimembranosus
5. Sartorius
 Muscles that Move the Hip Joint
Hip Abductor Hip Adductor
 Gluteus maximus  Adductor longus
 Gluteus minimus  Adductor magnus
 Gluteus medius  Adductor brevis
 Tensor fascia latae  Gracilis
 pectineus
 Muscles that Move the Hip Joint
Hip Medial Rotator Hip Lateral Rotator
 Gluteus medius  Gluteus maximus
 Gluteus minimus  Piriformis
 Tensor fascia latae  Obturator internus
 Psoas major  Obturator externus
 Iliacus  Superior gamellus
 Inferior gamellus
 quadratus