| Deep inguinal ring | |
|---|---|
| Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal. (Abdominal inguinal ring labeled at lower left.) | |
| Latin | annulus inguinalis profundus |
| Gray's | subject #286 1315 |
The deep inguinal ring (internal or deep abdominal ring, abdominal inguinal ring, internal inguinal ring) is the entrance to the inguinal canal.
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The surface marking of the deep inguinal ring is classically described as the midpoint of the inguinal ligament (midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle).[1]
However, the surface anatomy of the point is disputed. In a recent study[2] it was found to be in a region between the mid-inguinal point (situated midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis) and the midpoint of the inguinal ligament (i.e. midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle). 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 fascia.[3]
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.
It is bounded, above and laterally, by the arched lower margin of the transversalis fascia; below and medially, by the inferior epigastric vessels.
It transmits the spermatic cord in the male and the round ligament of the uterus in the female.
From its circumference a thin funnel-shaped membrane, the infundibuliform fascia, is continued around the cord and testis, enclosing them in a distinct covering.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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