ADDUCTOR CANAL

BY JSR
 OBJECTIVES
1. INTRODUCTION
2. BORDERS
3. CONTENTS
4. CLINICALS
 INTRODUCTION
 The ADDUCTOR CANAL (Hunter’s canal, subsartorial canal) is a
narrow conical tunnel located in the thigh.
 It is approximately 15cm long, extending from the apex of the
femoral triangle to the adductor hiatus of the adductor magnus.
 The canal serves as a passageway from structures moving
between the anterior thigh and posterior leg.
BORDERS
1. ANTERO-MEDIAL
2. LATERAL
3. POSTERIOR
4. ADDUCTOR HIATUS
 BORDERS
 The adductor canal is bordered by muscular structures:
1. Anteromedial: Sartorius.
2. Lateral: Vastus medialis.
3. Posterior: Adductor longus and adductor magnus.
 ADDUCTOR HIATUS
The adductor canal runs from the apex of the femoral triangle to the
adductor hiatus – a gap between the adductor and hamstring
attachments of the adductor magnus muscle.
CONTENTS
1. FEMORAL ARTERY
2. FEMORAL VEIN
3. NERVE TO VASTUS MEDIALIS
4. SAPHENOUS NERVE
 CONTENTS
 The adductor canal serves as a passageway for structures moving
between the anterior thigh and posterior leg.
 It transmits the femoral artery, femoral vein (posterior to the
artery), nerve to the vastus medialis and the saphenous nerve –
the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve.
 As the femoral artery and vein exit the canal, they are called the
popliteal artery and vein respectively.
1.
CLINICALS
ADDUCTOR CANAL BLOCK
2. ADDUCTOR CANAL COMPRESSION SYNDROME
 ADDUCTOR CANAL BLOCK
 The block can be used to provide sensory anaesthesia for
procedures involving the distal thigh and femur, knee and lower
leg on the medial side.
 In the adductor canal block, local anaesthetic is administered in
the adductor canal to block the saphenous nerve in isolation, or
together with the nerve to the vastus medialis.
 The sartorius and femoral artery are used as anatomical
landmarks to locate the saphenous nerve.
 ADDUCTOR CANAL
COMPRESSION SYNDROME
 Adductor canal compression syndrome describes entrapment of
the neurovascular bundle within the adductor canal. A rare
condition, it is usually caused by hypertrophy of adjacent muscles
such as vastus medialis.
 It is most common in young males.
QUIZ
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURES IS
LOCATED WITHIN THE ADDUCTOR CANAL?

A. PROFUNDA FEMORIS ARTERY

B. SAPHENOUS NERVE
C. POPLITEAL ARTERY
D. GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN
 WHAT STRUCTURE FORMS THE LATERAL
BORDER OF THE ADDUCTOR CANAL?

A. VASTUS MEDIALIS
B. SARTORIUS
C. GRACILIS
D. VASTUS LATERALIS
 THE ADDUCTOR CANAL ENDS AT THE
ADDUCTOR HIATUS, A SPACE WITHIN THE
_____________ MUSCLE.
A. RECTUS FEMORIS
B. ADDUCTOR LONGUS
C. ADDUCTOR MAGNUS
D. BICEPS FEMORIS
THANK YOU ALL