Femoral Triangle
Direct answer
The femoral triangle is a triangular fascial space in the upper medial part of the front of the thigh, below the inguinal ligament. Its base is the inguinal ligament, its lateral boundary the medial border of sartorius, and its medial boundary the lateral border of adductor longus. From lateral to medial it contains the femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein and femoral canal — NAVY: nerve, artery, vein, and the empty space with lymphatics.
What you must remember
- Boundaries: base — inguinal ligament; lateral — medial border of sartorius; medial — lateral border of adductor longus; the apex, where sartorius crosses adductor longus, continues as the adductor canal.
- Floor and roof: floor — iliopsoas laterally and pectineus medially; roof — fascia lata and superficial fascia, pierced by the great saphenous vein at the saphenous opening.
- Contents, lateral to medial: femoral nerve (outside the femoral sheath, on iliopsoas), then within the sheath the femoral artery, femoral vein and femoral canal — NAVY or NAVEL (nerve, artery, vein, empty space, lymphatics).
- Femoral sheath: transversalis fascia in front, iliac fascia behind, with three compartments — artery lateral, vein middle, canal medial.
- Femoral canal: contains areolar tissue, lymphatics and the Cloquet node; its abdominal opening is the femoral ring.
- Femoral artery: continuation of the external iliac at the mid-inguinal point; profunda femoris is its large branch and the main supply of the thigh; it ends as the popliteal artery at the adductor hiatus.
- Clinical importance: femoral hernia — through the femoral ring, presenting below and lateral to the pubic tubercle, commoner in women, and prone to strangulation because the ring is small and rigid; the femoral vein, medial to the artery, is used for venous access.
Common confusion
Students place the femoral vein lateral to the artery and believe the femoral nerve lies inside the femoral sheath — it lies outside it, on iliopsoas. Hernia landmarks are also confused: femoral below and lateral to the pubic tubercle, inguinal above and medial. Distinguish also the mid-inguinal point (femoral artery) from the midpoint of the inguinal ligament (femoral nerve).
Exam-focused takeaway
In theory, draw the triangle with boundaries and contents lateral to medial, and add the femoral sheath compartments and femoral hernia. In viva, expect the order of contents, why the nerve is outside the sheath, and how femoral and inguinal hernias differ. In practicals, demonstrate the femoral pulse, trace the great saphenous vein to the saphenous opening, and identify the boundaries.
Practise MCQs and previous-year questions on the femoral triangle and lower limb vessels in the PrepElephant app. Free notes continue on this website.
Frequently asked questions
What are the boundaries of the femoral triangle?
Base: inguinal ligament; lateral: medial border of sartorius; medial: lateral border of adductor longus; floor: iliopsoas and pectineus; roof: fascia lata with superficial fascia.
What is the order of contents, and what does NAVY stand for?
From lateral to medial: femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein and femoral canal — NAVY, or NAVEL (nerve, artery, vein, empty space, lymphatics). Only artery, vein and canal lie within the femoral sheath.
What does the femoral canal contain, and why does it matter?
Areolar tissue, lymphatics and the Cloquet node. A femoral hernia enters through the femoral ring, below and lateral to the pubic tubercle, and strangulates easily because the ring is rigid.
Where does the femoral artery begin and end?
It begins as the continuation of the external iliac artery at the mid-inguinal point and becomes the popliteal artery at the adductor hiatus.
Practise this in the PrepElephant app
Question banks, previous-year questions, mock tests and revision tools — for Femoral Triangle and Anatomy. Free to start.