Lower limb
Femoral triangle (of Scarpa)
Trigonum femorale (Scarpae)
- Origin
- Bounded by the inguinal ligament above, the sartorius laterally and the adductor longus medially
- Insertion
- Floor formed by iliopsoas and pectineus; the apex continues into the adductor canal
- Function
- Passage for the femoral artery and vein, the femoral nerve and the inguinal lymph nodes; the classic landmark region of the groin
- Innervation
- Femoral nerve (L2-L4) runs lateral to the artery
- Movement & chain
- Its contents shift with hip flexion and external rotation, which makes the vessels most accessible in that position
- Palpation
- From lateral to medial: nerve, artery, vein, lymphatics (NAVL); feel the pulse halfway along the inguinal ligament
- Clinical
- Femoral arterial puncture for cardiac catheterisation, femoral lines, lymphadenopathy, false aneurysm after puncture
- Segmental innervation
- L2-L4
- In clinical practice
- After femoral puncture compress for at least ten minutes and check distal pulses for rebleeding
- Region in the model
- Lower limb