Inguinal Canal

Overview

• Inguinal rings
  • internal (deep) inguinal ring lies in transversalis fascia, just lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels
  • external (superficial) ring is a triangular opening in the external oblique aponeurosis that lies just lateral to the pubic tubercle
• Inguinal canal
  • boundaries
    • anterior wall
      • formed by the aponeuroses of external oblique and internal oblique muscles
    • posterior wall
      • formed by the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis muscle and transversalis fascia
    • superior wall
      • roof
      • formed by the arching fibers of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles
    • inferior wall
      • floor
      • formed by the inguinal ligament and lacunar ligament
  • contents
    • male
      • inguinal canal transmits spermatic cord 
        • spermatic cord contents = “FANO x 3”
          • Fascia
            • internal spermatic fascia
            • cremasteric fascia
              • contains cremaster muscle
            • external spermatic fascia
          • Arteries
            • testicular artery
            • artery to vas deferens
            • artery to cremaster
          • Nerves
            • ilioinguinal nerve
            • genital branch of genitofemoral nerve
              • innervates cremaster muscle
            • autonomics
          • Other
            • vas deferens
            • pampiniform plexus of veins
            • testicular lymphatics
    • female
      • inguinal canal transmits
        • round ligament of uterus
        • ilioinguinal nerve 
          • does not pass through deep inguinal ring – only travels through part of the inguinal canal