Lacunar ligament
Encyclopedia
The lacunar ligament is a ligament in the inguinal region that connects the inguinal ligament
to the pectineal ligament
near the point where they both insert on the pubic tubercle
.
of the external oblique muscle that is reflected backward and laterally and is attached to the pectineal line of the pubis.
It is about 1.25 cm. long, larger in the male than in the female, almost horizontal in direction in the erect posture, and of a triangular form with the base directed laterally.
Its base is concave, thin, and sharp, and forms the medial boundary of the femoral ring
. Its apex corresponds to the pubic tubercle
.
Its posterior margin is attached to the pectineal line, and is continuous with the pectineal ligament
. Its anterior margin is attached to the inguinal ligament
.
Its surfaces are directed upward and downward.
.
Inguinal ligament
The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.-Anatomy:...
to the pectineal ligament
Pectineal ligament
The pectineal ligament is an extension of the lacunar ligament that runs on the pectineal line of the pubic bone....
near the point where they both insert on the pubic tubercle
Pubic tubercle
The pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting tubercle on the upper border of the medial portion of the superior ramus of the pubis...
.
Anatomy
It is the part of the aponeurosisAponeurosis
Aponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
of the external oblique muscle that is reflected backward and laterally and is attached to the pectineal line of the pubis.
It is about 1.25 cm. long, larger in the male than in the female, almost horizontal in direction in the erect posture, and of a triangular form with the base directed laterally.
Its base is concave, thin, and sharp, and forms the medial boundary of the femoral ring
Femoral ring
The femoral ring is the base of the femoral canal. It is directed upward and is oval in form, its long diameter being directed transversely and measuring about 1.25 cm.-Boundaries:The femoral ring is bounded as follows:...
. Its apex corresponds to the pubic tubercle
Pubic tubercle
The pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting tubercle on the upper border of the medial portion of the superior ramus of the pubis...
.
Its posterior margin is attached to the pectineal line, and is continuous with the pectineal ligament
Pectineal ligament
The pectineal ligament is an extension of the lacunar ligament that runs on the pectineal line of the pubic bone....
. Its anterior margin is attached to the inguinal ligament
Inguinal ligament
The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.-Anatomy:...
.
Its surfaces are directed upward and downward.
Clinical significance
The lacunar ligament is the only boundary of the femoral canal that can be cut to release a femoral herniaFemoral hernia
A hernia is caused by the protrusion of a viscus through a weakness in the containing wall. This weakness may be inherent, as in the case of inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias. On the other hand, the weakness may be caused by surgical incision through the muscles of the abdominal/thoracic wall...
.