438 



THE MUSCLES AND FASCIA 



The internal or deep abdominal ring (annulus inguinalis abdominis) (Figs. 322 

 and 330) is situated in the transversalis fascia, midway between the anterior 

 superior spine of the ilium and the symphysis pubis, and about half an inch above 

 Poupart's ligament. It is of an oval form, the extremities of the oval directed 

 upward and downward, varies in size in different subjects, and is much larger in 

 the male than in the female. The internal ring is bounded, above and externally, 

 by the arched fibres of the Transversalis; below and internally, by the deep 

 epigastric vessels. It transmits the spermatic cord in the male and the round 

 ligament in the female. From its circumference a thin funnel-shaped membrane. 

 the infundibuliform or internal spermatic fascia, is continued around the cord and 

 testis. enclosing them in a distinct covering. 



TRANSVERSALIS 

 FASCIA 



INTERNAL 



ABDOMINAL 



RING 



FEMORAL NERVE 



FEMORAL ARTERY 



ILIAC FASCIA 



FIG. 330. The relation of the femoral and internal abdominal rings, seen from within the abdomen after 

 removal of the peritoneum. (Poirier and Charpy.) 



When the sac of an oblique inguinal hernia passes through the internal or deep abdominal 

 ring, the infundibuliform process of the transversalis fascia- iforms one of its coverings. 



The Inguinal or Spermatic Canal (canalis inguinalis) (Figs. 331 and 332). The 

 inguinal or spermatic canal contains the spermatic cord (funiculus spennaticus) in 

 the male and the round ligament (ligametitum teres uteri) in the female. It is an 

 oblique canal about an inch and a half in length, directed downward and inward, 

 and placed parallel to and a little above Poupart's ligament. It commences above 

 at the internal or deep abdominal ring, which is the point where the cord enters 

 the spermatic canal, and terminates below at the external ring. It is bounded 

 in front by the aponeurosis of the P^xternal oblique throughout its whole length, 

 and by the Internal oblique for its outer third; behind, from within outward, by 

 the triangular fascia (when this is present), the conjoined tendon, and the trans- 

 versalis fascia; below, by Gimbernat's ligament, and by the union of the fascia 

 transversalis with Poupart's ligament. The deep epigastric artery passes upward 

 and inward behind the canal lying close to the inner side of the internal abdominal 

 ring (Fig. 322). The interval between this artery and the outer edge of the Rectus 

 abdominis is named Hesselbach's triangle, the base of which is formed by Pou- 

 part's ligament. 



