AN15.1-5 | Front & Medial side of thigh — Glossary

A triangular depression in the upper medial thigh bounded by the inguinal ligament, sartorius, and adductor longus, containing the femoral nerve, artery, vein, and canal

The main artery of the lower limb, entering the thigh at the midinguinal point as a continuation of the external iliac artery

The midpoint of the inguinal ligament (between ASIS and pubic tubercle) where the femoral artery enters the thigh

The largest branch of the femoral artery, arising 3-4 cm below the inguinal ligament, supplying most of the thigh muscles

The largest branch of the lumbar plexus (L2, L3, L4), lying lateral to the femoral artery, supplying anterior thigh muscles and skin

The longest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve, accompanying the great saphenous vein to supply sensation to the medial leg and foot

A funnel-shaped fascial tube enclosing the femoral artery, vein, and canal (but not the femoral nerve) below the inguinal ligament

The most medial compartment of the femoral sheath, containing lymphatics and the node of Cloquet; site of femoral hernia

A hernia protruding through the femoral canal, more common in women, presenting below and lateral to the pubic tubercle with high strangulation risk

A cold abscess from TB of the lumbar spine that tracks through the psoas sheath to present as a painless swelling in the femoral triangle

A composite hip flexor formed by iliacus and psoas major, inserting on the lesser trochanter of the femur

A group of four muscles (rectus femoris, three vasti) that extend the knee, all supplied by the femoral nerve

The oblique fibres of vastus medialis that prevent lateral patellar subluxation; wasting is the earliest sign of knee pathology

The longest muscle in the body, crossing from ASIS to the pes anserinus, forming the lateral boundary of the femoral triangle

Hunter's canal, an intermuscular passage in the middle third of the thigh conveying the femoral vessels from the femoral triangle to the adductor hiatus

An opening in the adductor magnus tendon near the adductor tubercle through which the femoral vessels pass to become popliteal vessels

A nerve from the lumbar plexus (L2, L3, L4) supplying the medial thigh adductor muscles; hip joint pain may refer to the medial knee via this nerve

The combined insertion of sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus on the upper medial tibia, resembling a goose's foot

The largest adductor muscle with dual nerve supply: adductor portion by obturator nerve and hamstring portion by tibial nerve

A thin strap-like muscle of the medial thigh, the only adductor crossing both hip and knee joints

A branch of profunda femoris providing the principal blood supply to the femoral head via retinacular branches

A branch of profunda femoris that supplies the lateral thigh and participates in the cruciate and trochanteric anastomoses

A flat quadrangular muscle forming part of the femoral triangle floor, the only adductor supplied primarily by the femoral nerve