Superficial inguinal ring

The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall that transmits structures from the pelvis to the perineum formed by the fetal migration of the gonad from the abdomen into the labioscrotal folds.

Gross anatomy

The inguinal canal has an oblique course, is 4 cm in length and has two openings:

  • deep inguinal ring: a round opening in the transversalis fascia found 1 cm superior to the inguinal ligament and 1 cm lateral to the inferior epigastric arteries
  • superficial inguinal ring: a V-shaped opening in the external oblique aponeurosis that is superior and lateral to the pubic tubercle (within Hesselbach's triangle
  • Deep inguinal ring

    The deep inguinal ring is bounded by the following:

    Superficial inguinal ring

    The superficial inguinal ring, as described, is an inverted 'V' shaped, triangular opening in the medial end of the external oblique aponeurosis, above and lateral to the pubic tubercle. The lateral arm of the 'V' is the lateral crus and its medial arm, the medial crus. The spermatic cord (in males)/round ligament (in females) overlies the pubic tubercle.

    • lateral crus of the 'V' is attached to the pubic tubercle
    • medial crus of the 'V' is attached to the pubic crest, near the symphysis. 
    • posterior crus arises from the attachment of the lateral crus, whereby some fibers (reflected part of the inguinal ligament) pass up behind the cord to attach to the rectus sheath, blending with fibers of the opposite side
    Boundaries

    The following structures contribute to the walls of the inguinal canal :

    MALT is a mnemonic to recall this.

    Contents

    Related pathology

    Siehe auch:
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