Inguinal triangle
Region of the abdominal wall in humans
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In human anatomy, the inguinal triangle is a region of the abdominal wall. It is also known by the eponym Hesselbach's triangle, after Franz Kaspar Hesselbach.
| Inguinal triangle | |
|---|---|
Internal (from posterior to anterior) view of right inguinal area of the male pelvis. Inguinal triangle is labeled in green. The three surrounding structures: inferior epigastric vessels: Run from upper left to center. inguinal ligament: Runs from upper right to bottom left. rectus abdominis muscle: Runs from upper left to bottom left, labeled rectus at upper left. | |
 External view. Inguinal triangle is labeled in green. Borders: inferior epigastric artery and vein: labeled at center left, and run from upper right to bottom center. inguinal ligament: not labeled on diagram, but runs a similar path to the inguinal aponeurotic falx, labeled at bottom. rectus abdominis muscle: runs from upper left to bottom left. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | trigonum inguinale |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.433 |
| TA2 | 3795 |
| FMA | 256506 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
It is defined by the following structures:
- Medial border: Lateral margin of the rectus sheath.[1][2]
- Superolateral border: Inferior epigastric vessels.[1][2]
- Inferior border: Inguinal ligament.[1][2]
This can be remembered by the mnemonic RIP (Rectus sheath (medial), Inferior epigastric artery (lateral), Poupart's ligament (inguinal ligament, inferior).
Clinical significance
The inguinal triangle contains a depression referred to as the medial inguinal fossa, through which direct inguinal hernias protrude through the abdominal wall.[3]
History
The inguinal triangle is also known as Hesselbach's triangle, after Franz Kaspar Hesselbach.[2]