ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT

Muscles:

The large quadriceps muscle dominates the anterior compartment of the

thigh. Its four constituent heads are the rectus femoris, vastus medialis,
vastus lateralis and vastus intermedias. A long strap muscle, the sartorius,
spans the distance ASIS and medial side of tibia. Other muscles included in
this group are the tensor fasciae latae, iliopsoas and the pectineus.
Femoral nerve
Supplies all muscles in this compartment, skin covering front of thigh,
medial side of leg and foot and articular branches to hip and knee joint. It is
formed by L2,3,4 of lumbar plexus.

Femoral artery
It is the chief artery of the lower limb. It enters the femoral triangle midway
between the symphsis pubis and ASIS. It emerges under the inguinal
ligament and exits the triangle’s apex, the meeting point of sartorius and
adductor longus. Here it enters adductor canal. Just above the adductor
tubercle of the femur, it enters popliteal fossa passing through a hiatus in the
tendinous attachment of the adductor magnus to the femur.
Branches
It has two large branches: profunda femoris and descending genicular
arteries. Others are superficial circumflex, superficial epigastric and external
pudental arteries. Profunda femoris gives two large branches: lateral
circumflex which has three branches: ascending branch joins trochanteric
anastomosis, descending branch which contributes to the collateral
circulation around the knee joint and transverse branch participates in the
cruciate anastomosis; medial circum flex which has acetabular branch
acetabular fossa, ascending branch which participates in the cruciate
anastomosis and a transverse branch.

Femoral triangle
An intermuscular space in the proximal part of anterior compartment. It has
sides (borders), floor, base and apex.
Lateral borer is formed by sartorius
Medial border by adductor longus
Floor by iliopsoas and pectineus
Contents are femoral vessels and nerve, profunda femoris and branches,
deep nodes, saphenous vein and tributaries.

Femoral sheath
Formed by extensions fascial laminae that line abdominal cavity. Its
significance is the femoral hernia. Sheath is about 3 to 4 cm. Sheath fuses
with the adventitia of femoral vessels. Space enclosed by the sheath is
divided into three compartments. Femoral hernia when it enlarges emerges
through the saphenous opening.

Adductor canal (subsartorial canal)

Commences at the apex of femoral triangle and terminates above the medial
condyle at the adductor hiatus. Posterior wall is formed by adductor longus;
Anterior is formed by vastus medialis, roof is formed by sartorius and
lamina of fascia. Contents are femoral vessels, saphenous nerve and nerve to
vastus medialis.

Femoral hernia
More common in women. Neck of the sac lies below and lateral to the pubic
tubercle.
Its walls: Anterior by inguinal ligament
Posterior by pectineal ligament and superior ramus of pubis
Medial by free edge of lacunar ligament
Lateral is femoral vein
Because of these anatomic structures, neck is unable to expand leading to
irreducibility and strangulation.