280 



The Abdominal .Muscles. 



Liganientum inguinale [PonpaHiJ 



Fibrae intercrurales 



M. obliquns externus abdominis 



Annulus 



inguinalis subcutaiieus 

 I Crus superius 



^-> 



Funiculus 

 spermaliciis 

 (cut through) 



with 

 ui. cremaster 



325. Right anterior abdominal ring and fossa 



ovalis in the male. 



Lig'amcutum inguinale [l^oupartij (0. T. Pouparfs ligament) (see also Figs. 316, 317, 

 324, 328, 370 and 376) is a powerful, flatly rounded tendon, which extends from the spina iliaca 

 anterior superior to the tubercidum pubicum. To its upper margin are attached the tendinous 

 fibers of the m. obliquus externus, and from it arise part of the fibers of the m. obliquus iu- 

 ternus and m. transversus abddininis ; to its lower margin the fascia lata is attached and this 

 causes a convex downward bulging of the ligament. Medianward the ligament does not end at 

 the tuberculum pubicimi alone but also sends diverging fibers to the pecten ossis pubis: the latter 

 insertion is a small triangular ligament, lifiamctitum lacunare [Gnfiber/iati] (0. T. Girabernafs 

 ligament) (see also i^'igs. 32S and 370), which bounds the annulus fenKjralis (see p. 32.5) with its lateral 

 concave margin, and fused with the fascia pectinea, extends obliquely backward and upward. 



Caiialis inguinalis (inguinal canal) (see also Figs. 326328) is a cylindrical space 

 filled up by the funiculus spermaticus in tlie male, by the lig. teres uteri in the female: it 

 perforates the lowermost portion of the abdominal muscles obliquely from behind and above, 

 forward, downward and medianward. The canal has two openings, one posterior, annulus 

 in/iuinalis ulidominalis (0. T. internal abdominal ring), and one anterior, annulus inguinalis 

 subculancus ((). T. external abdominal ring), and (somewhat schematically) four walls, one 

 anteriiir, one inferior, one superior, one posterior. 



The annulus ingui/ialis subculancus (see also Fig. 318) lies somewhat laterally fi"om 

 and a little above the tub(>rculum jjubicum. It is forme(l by the separation of the lowermust 

 fibers of the tendon of the m. dbliquus extenms from one another giving rise to an acute-angled 

 space, which is bounded below by fibers which go to the tuberculum pubicum ferns infcrius, 

 0. T. external, pillar), above by fibers which run to the anterior surface of the symphysis ossiura 

 pubis (crus superins, 0. T. internal pillar): the larger lateral portion of the space is filled up by 

 curved fibers which run transversely, fibrae inter crur alt's (0. T. inters ihunnar fascia, external 

 spermatic fascia). These fibers leave as a free opening only a small si)a<'e, convex laterally, 

 whicii will permit the passage of the tip of the index finger. 



