Human Anatomy
Front and Medial Side of the Thigh
Front and medial thigh anatomy for MBBS: femoral triangle, femoral sheath and canal, adductor canal and femoral hernia, mapped to NMC codes AN15.1 to AN15.5.
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Front and Medial Side of the Thigh
Front and medial thigh anatomy for MBBS: femoral triangle, femoral sheath and canal, adductor canal and femoral hernia, mapped to NMC codes AN15.1 to AN15.5.
This chapter covers the front and medial thigh, including the femoral triangle and adductor canal, which carry the main vessels and nerves to the lower limb. It links the quadriceps and adductor muscles to the femoral and obturator nerves, and covers the clinically vital anatomy of femoral hernia and the femoral pulse.
High-yield: Front and Medial Side of the Thigh
- The femoral triangle is bounded by the inguinal ligament above, sartorius laterally and adductor longus medially.
- The contents of the femoral triangle from lateral to medial are the femoral nerve, artery, vein and the femoral canal, remembered as NAVEL.
- The femoral sheath encloses the femoral artery, vein and canal but not the femoral nerve.
- The femoral canal is the medial compartment of the femoral sheath and is the site of a femoral hernia.
- A femoral hernia lies below and lateral to the pubic tubercle, whereas an inguinal hernia lies above and medial to it.
- The quadriceps femoris is the great extensor of the knee and is supplied by the femoral nerve.
- The adductor muscles of the medial compartment are supplied mainly by the obturator nerve.
- The adductor (subsartorial or Hunter's) canal runs from the apex of the femoral triangle to the adductor hiatus.
- The adductor canal contains the femoral artery and vein, the saphenous nerve and the nerve to vastus medialis.
- The femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery as it passes through the adductor hiatus.
- The great saphenous vein ends by piercing the cribriform fascia to join the femoral vein at the saphenous opening.
- The saphenous nerve is the longest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve and supplies the medial side of the leg and foot.
- The femoral pulse is felt at the mid-inguinal point, halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis.
- The profunda femoris artery is the main arterial supply to the thigh and gives the perforating arteries.
Femoral triangle contents
- **Femoral nerve:** Most lateral; outside the femoral sheath; supplies quadriceps and skin of the front of the thigh.
- **Femoral artery:** Central; palpated at the mid-inguinal point; continues as the popliteal artery.
- **Femoral vein:** Medial to the artery; receives the great saphenous vein at the saphenous opening.
- **Femoral canal:** Most medial part of the femoral sheath; contains a lymph node; site of a femoral hernia.
NMC competencies in this chapter
- **AN15.1:** Boundaries and contents of the femoral triangle
- **AN15.2:** Femoral sheath and femoral canal
- **AN15.3:** Muscles of the front and medial compartments of the thigh
- **AN15.4:** Femoral and obturator nerves and the adductor canal
- **AN15.5:** Applied anatomy including femoral hernia
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the contents of the femoral triangle?
From lateral to medial the femoral triangle contains the femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein and the femoral canal, often remembered by the mnemonic NAVEL.
Why is the femoral canal clinically important?
The femoral canal is the most medial compartment of the femoral sheath and is a potential weak point through which a femoral hernia can protrude below and lateral to the pubic tubercle.
What does the adductor canal contain?
The adductor canal carries the femoral artery and vein, the saphenous nerve and the nerve to vastus medialis, taking the main vessels from the thigh towards the back of the knee.
Where is the femoral pulse felt?
The femoral pulse is felt at the mid-inguinal point, which lies halfway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis, just below the inguinal ligament.
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