The
deep inguinal ring (
internal or deep abdominal ring,
abdominal inguinal ring,
internal inguinal ring) is the entrance to the
inguinal canalThe inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament...
.
The surface marking of the deep inguinal ring is classically described as the midpoint of the
inguinal ligamentThe 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:...
(midway between the
anterior superior iliac spineThe anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, the sartorius muscle, and the tensor fasciae latae....
and the
pubic tubercleThe pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting tubercle on the upper border of the medial portion of the superior ramus of the pubis...
).
However, the surface anatomy of the point is disputed. In a recent study it was found to be in a region between the mid-inguinal point (situated midway between the
anterior superior iliac spineThe anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, the sartorius muscle, and the tensor fasciae latae....
and the
pubic symphysisThe pubic symphysis is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the superior rami of the left and right pubic bones. It is located anterior to the urinary bladder and superior to the external genitalia; for females it is above the vulva and for males it is above the penis. In males, the suspensory...
) and the midpoint of the
inguinal ligamentThe 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:...
(i.e.
The
deep inguinal ring (
internal or deep abdominal ring,
abdominal inguinal ring,
internal inguinal ring) is the entrance to the
inguinal canalThe inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament...
.
Location
The surface marking of the deep inguinal ring is classically described as the midpoint of the
inguinal ligamentThe 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:...
(midway between the
anterior superior iliac spineThe anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, the sartorius muscle, and the tensor fasciae latae....
and the
pubic tubercleThe pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting tubercle on the upper border of the medial portion of the superior ramus of the pubis...
).
However, the surface anatomy of the point is disputed. In a recent study it was found to be in a region between the mid-inguinal point (situated midway between the
anterior superior iliac spineThe anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, the sartorius muscle, and the tensor fasciae latae....
and the
pubic symphysisThe pubic symphysis is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the superior rami of the left and right pubic bones. It is located anterior to the urinary bladder and superior to the external genitalia; for females it is above the vulva and for males it is above the penis. In males, the suspensory...
) and the midpoint of the
inguinal ligamentThe 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:...
(i.e. midway between the
anterior superior iliac spineThe anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, the sartorius muscle, and the tensor fasciae latae....
and the
pubic tubercleThe pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting tubercle on the upper border of the medial portion of the superior ramus of the pubis...
). Traditionally, either one of these 2 sites was claimed as its location. However, this claim is based upon the study's dissection of 52 cadavers, and may not reflect the live
in vivo anatomy.
Some sources state that it is at the layer of the
transversalis fasciaThe transversalis fascia is a thin aponeurotic membrane which lies between the inner surface of the Transversus abdominis and the extraperitoneal fascia....
.
Shape
It is of an oval form, the long axis of the oval being vertical; it varies in size in different subjects, and is much larger in the male than in the female.
Boundaries
It is bounded, above and laterally, by the arched lower margin of the transversalis fascia; below and medially, by the
inferior epigastric vesselsIn human anatomy, inferior epigastric vessels refers to the inferior epigastric artery and inferior epigastric vein....
.
Transmission
It transmits the
spermatic cordThe spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens and surrounding tissue that run from the abdomen down to each testicle.-Contents of spermatic cord:...
in the male and the round ligament of the uterus in the female.
Extensions
From its circumference a thin funnel-shaped membrane, the infundibuliform fascia, is continued around the cord and testis, enclosing them in a distinct covering.
External links
- "The inguinal canal and derivation of the layers of the spermatic cord." - "The Coverings of the Inguinal Canal, External & Internal Oblique & Transversus Abdominis Removed"