Femoral hernia pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Pathophysiology
A hernia occurs when abdominal contents, usually part of the small intestine, push through a weak point or tear in the thin muscular wall of the abdomen that holds the abdominal organs in place.
Anatomy
The femoral canal is located below the inguinal ligament on the lateral aspect of the pubic tubercle (note: inguinal hernias are above and medial to the pubic tubercle; femoral are below and lateral). It is bounded by the inguinal ligament anteriorly, pectineal ligament posteriorly, lacunar ligament medially, and the femoral vein laterally. It normally contains a few lymphatics, loose areolar tissue and occasionally a lymph node called Cloquet's node. The function of this canal appears to be to allow the femoral vein to expand when necessary to accommodate increased venous return from the leg during periods of activity.