ANATOMY IN A NUTSHELL. 477 



The internal abdominal ring (Plate XV) is situated about half way between 

 the anterior superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis. It Is about 

 half an inch above Poupart's ligament and in the transversalis fascia. This 

 is also a potential opening. This is much larger in the male than in the female. 



The relations of the internal abdominal ring. 



Above and Externally. — Arched fibers of the Transversalis muscle. 



Below and Internally. — Deep epigastric vessels. 



The spermatic cord in the male and the round ligament in the female pass 

 through this opening. 



Gimbernat's ligament is about a half an inch in length and larger in the 

 male than in the female. In the erect posture it is almost horizontal in direc- 

 tion with its base directed outward, it being triangular in form. It is derived 

 from the External oblique muscle and is reflected downward and outward from 

 the spine of the os pubis to be inseretd into the pectineal line. Its anterior 

 margin is continuous with Poupart's ligament. 



The triangular ligament of the abdomen is attached by its apex to the 

 pectineal line where it is continuous with Gimbernat's ligament. From there 

 it passes inward beneath the spermatic cord behind the inner pillar of the ex- 

 ternal abdominal ring and in front of the conjoined tendon to the linea alba 

 where it joins its fellow. 



Poupart's ligament is formed by the fascia of the External oblique muscle 

 of the abdomen and passes from the anterior superior spine of the ilium to the 

 spine of the os pubis. This ligament lies beneath the spermatic cord and is 

 called crural arch. 



LESSON CLIV. 



Femoral hernia passes below Poupart's ligament and passes down towards 

 the saphenous opening in the femoral or crural canal. If it passes through this 

 opening it is called complete, if it does not it is called incomplete. 



The coverings of a femoral hernia from within outward are: 



1. Peritoneum. 



2. Subserous areolar tissue, called the fascia propria of Cooper. 



3. Septum crurale, which is from the femoral ring. 



4. Crural sheath, which is from the transversalis fascia. 



5. Cribriform fascia, which is from the saphenous opening. 



6. Superficial fascia. Its superficial layer. 



7. Skin. 



The femoral sheath is funnel-shaped and has three compartments in it. 

 The outer one is for the femoral artery. THE MIDDLE ONE tor the femora] vein, 

 and the internal one for the femoral canal. (Plate XVI). 



The femoral canal is about three-fourths of an inch Long and extends from 

 the femoral ring above to the saphenous opening below. 



The relations of the femoral canal. 



In Front. — Transversalis fascia. 



