THE FRONT OF THE THIGH 



403 



medially, and on the psoas major, laterally. Between these 

 two muscles the posterior wall of the sheath is connected to the 

 capsule of the hip-joint. 



The mouths of the central and lateral compartments of the 

 sheath are completely filled by their contents, but the mouth 

 of the femoral canal, which is termed the femoral (crural) ring, 

 is occupied only by a lymph gland, and therefore constitutes 

 a weak point in the fascial envelope of the abdomen. In addi- 

 tion to its fascial walls, the femoral ring is bounded anteriorly 



Skin 



Fascia of Camper 

 Fascia of Scarpa 

 Ext. oblique aponeurosis 

 Int. oblique 



Transversus 

 Fascia transversalis- 

 Peritoneun 



Fascia iliaca' 

 Femoral ring" 

 Deep subinguinal gland 

 Septum femorale. 

 Pectineus- 

 Fossa ovalis- 



Superior ramus of pubis 



FIG. 120. Diagram of a Sagittal Section through the lower part of the 

 Abdomen and the proximal part of the Thigh. The section passes 

 through the femoral canal and demonstrates the mode of formation of 

 the femoral sheath. 



by the inguinal ligament, laterally by the femoral vein, pos- 

 teriorly by the pectineus and the subjacent ramus of the pubis, 

 and medially by the free, lateral margin of the lacunar ligament 

 (of Gimbernat). 



In a Femoral Hernia the bowel pushes the parietal peri- 

 toneum of the lower part of the anterior abdominal wall and 

 the extra-peritoneal fat (septum femorale, p. 402) through the 

 femoral ring into the femoral canal. It stretches the anterior 

 wall of the sheath and thus gains another covering. The sac, 

 together with its coverings, passes through the fascia lata at 

 the fossa ovalis, and then, following the course of least resist- 

 ance, bends upwards towards the anterior superior iliac spine 



26 a 



