Inguinal Canal

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Top Contributors - Khloud Shreif and Kirenga Bamurange Liliane  

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Introduction

The inguinal canal is an oblique triangular shape in the lower aponeurosis of the external obliquis muscle about 3-5 cm in length, it is superior and parallel to the inguinal ligament. Situated at the inferior part of the abdominal wall and extended medially and inferiorly.

Divided into superficial and deep inguinal canal, becomes superficial as it passes from medial to lateral through penetrating the inguinal canal. It is a common site for herniation surrounded by 4 boundaries.

Boundaries

Anterior wall: skin, superficial fascia, aponeurosis of external obliquis, and part of the internal obliquis muscle.

Posterior wall: the conjoint tendon ( the insertion point of the external and internal obliquis muscles) most medial and transvesalis fasci lateral to it.

Roof/ superior wall: arching fibers of internal obliquis and transversalis fascia.

Inferior wall: medial part of the inguinal ligament.

Openings

Deep/ lateral inguinal ring: located above the midpoint of the inguinal ligament, lateral to the epigastric vessels, it considered as a defect in the transversalis fascia developed at embryology, and terminates superolateral to the pubic tubercle by the superficial ring. When there is an increase in the intra-abdominal pressure the IO muscle contracts making the canal taut.

Superficial inguinal ring: the end of the inguinal canal found 1 cm superolateral to the pubic tubercle, it is a defect in the aponeurosis of the external obliquis, this ring surrounded medially by rectus abdominis its (inferolateral border), laterally by inferior epigastric vessel, and medial inguinal ligament inferiorly forming a triangle called inguinal triangle that is a land mark of the superficial ring.