Inguinal canal (Latin)

The canalis inguinalis commences at anulus inguinalis profundus, located at the midpoint between the spina iliaca anterior superior and tuberculum. It continues through the anterior mm. abdominis and terminates at the anulus inguinalis superficialis (a slitlike opening in the aponeurosis m. obliquus externus abdominis). The canalis inguinalis is bounded from four aspects. The roof (paries superior) is formed by the m. obliquus internus and m. transversus abdominis. The paries anterior is derived from the aponeuroses of the mm. obliqui internus/externus abdominis. The floor (paries inferior) is formed by the lig. inguinale and lig. lacunare (not shown). The paries posterior is formed by the fascia transversalis and falx inguinalis (a.k.a. tendo conjunctivus of the m. obliquus internus and m. transversus abdominis).The image depicts the funiculus spermaticus traversing the canalis inguinalis. The cord is enveloped by three fascial layers, derived from the musculofascial structures of the abdominal wall. From superficial to deep, they are: fascia spermatica externa (derived from the aponeurosis of the m. obliquus externus abdominis), m. cremaster/fascia cremasterica (derived from the m. obliquus internus abdominis and its fascia), fascia spermatica interna a (derived from the fascia transversalis). The funiculus spermaticus itself transmits several structures to and from the testes: a. testicularis, a. cremasterica, a. ductus deferentis, plexus venosus pampiniformis, n. ilioinguinalis and r. genitalis n. genitofemoralis and ductus deferens.