The femoral triangle (or Scarpa's triangle) is an anatomical region of the upper third of the thigh. It is a subfascial space which appears as a triangular depression below the inguinal ligament when the thigh is flexed, abducted and laterally rotated.

Structure

The femoral triangle is bounded:

  • superiorly (also known as the base) by the inguinal ligament. of the inguinal lymph nodes, and is the location targeted in an inguinal lymphadenectomy. The basins are separated by the fascia lata. For patients with palpable nodal disease, removal of the superficial and deep basins are recommended. In a patient with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy, generally only the superficial nodes are removed, unless Cloquet's node (the most superior of the deep nodes) is clinically positive.

Additional images

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File:Gray1238.png|Front and medial aspect of right thigh.

File:Femoral Triangle Borders.png|Borders of the femoral triangle of the Visible Human Male.

File:Femoral Triangle Contents.png|Contents of the femoral triangle of the Visible Human Male.

</gallery>

References

  • - "Anterior and Medial Thigh Region: Boundaries of the Femoral Triangle"