ABSTRACT

Surgery of the groin is dominated by that of inguinal herniae, and an understanding of the anatomy and development of the region is essential to the surgeon.

The inguinal canal, which is about 4 cm in length, runs obliquely through the muscles, aponeuroses and fasciae of the abdominal wall above the medial part of the inguinal ligament. Its internal end is the deep inguinal ring, an opening in the transversalis fascia, 1 cm above the mid-point of the inguinal ligament and immediately lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels. Its external end is the superficial inguinal ring, a triangular aperture in the aponeurosis of external oblique immediately above the pubic tubercle and the medial end of the inguinal ligament.