inguinalregionen

The inguinal region, or inguinalregionen, is the area of the lower anterior abdominal wall and proximal thigh commonly referred to as the groin. It extends from the abdominal wall to the upper thigh and is clinically important because it contains channels and spaces through which structures pass between the abdomen and the perineum. The region is bounded anteriorly by the external oblique aponeurosis, superiorly by a line from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle, and inferiorly by the inguinal ligament; medially it is bordered by the pubic crest and lacunar ligament, and laterally by the anterior superior iliac spine.

A key feature of the region is the inguinal canal, an oblique passage through the lower abdominal wall. In males it transmits the spermatic cord; in females it transmits the round ligament of the uterus. The deep inguinal ring marks the canal’s entrance and the superficial ring its exit. The canal also contains nerves and vessels, including the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve and, with vessels, parts of the vas deferens and testicular vessels. The ilioinguinal nerve also traverses this region, providing cutaneous sensation.

The inguinal region contains lymphatic vessels that drain to the superficial inguinal nodes, with eventual drainage to deeper nodes. Below the inguinal ligament lies the femoral canal, a potential site for femoral hernias. Clinically, the region is the most common site of groin hernias: indirect hernias pass through the deep inguinal ring lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels; direct hernias protrude through Hesselbach’s triangle medial to them; femoral hernias occur through the femoral canal and are more common in women. Surgical repair addresses these conditions through open or laparoscopic approaches.