THE ABDOMEN 



667 



abdominal surface of Gimbemat's ligament along its line of jimc- 

 tion with Poupart's ligament. The roof is formed by the apposition 

 of the external and internal oblique muscles, and also by the lower 

 borders of the internal oblique cind transversalis. The anterior 

 wall is formed by the following structures from before backwards : 

 (i) the skin ; (2) fascia of Camper ; (3) fascia of Scarpa ; (4) external 

 oblique aponeurosis (all of these four structures extending over the 

 whole length of the anterior wall) ; and (5) the Poupart portion 

 of the internal oblique over the outer third. The posterior wall is 

 formed by the following structures, in order from behind forwards : 

 (i) the parietal peritonemn ; (2) subperitoneal fat ; (3) fascia 



Obliquus Intemus Abdominis 



Transversalis - 

 Abdominis 



Obliquus Extemas ^ 



Abdominis 



fectii 



Sartorius 



Adductor Longus !..' 



Fig. 2 5 



.■L' Rectus Abdominis 



—— Spermatic Cord 



I Suspensory Liga- 

 ment of Penis 



r~-~Inguinal Nerve 



-Dissection of the Inguinal Region. 



transversalis; (4) conjoined tendon over the inner two-thirds, and 

 it may be, the reflected tendon of Cooper over the outer third ; 

 and (5) the outer portion of the triangular fascia (provided that 

 fascia is well developed), which lies over the extreme inner part of 

 this wall. 



In early life the inguinal canal is very short. Indeed, at one 

 period of life it is non-existent, inasmuch as the internal abdominal 

 ring in very early life lies directly behind the external ring. As the 

 pehns, however, increases in breadth, the internal ring is gradually 

 shifted outwards, and so the inguinal canal becomes formed. 



The inguinal canal in the female differs from that in the male in 



