Editing Abdominal Wall (section)

== Inguinal canal ==

* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Transmits (2):</span>'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Ilioinguinal nerve (L1)</span>'''
** '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Spermatic cord/round ligament</span>'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Anterior wall and floor (inferior wall): external oblique, which folds over at its inferior edge as the inguinal ligament</span>'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Posterior wall: transversalis fascia</span>'''
* '''<span style="color:#ff0000">Roof (superior wall): fibers of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis</span>'''
* External inguinal ring
** Invaginate the scrotum with a finger to identify approximate location
** Lateral edges (crura): fibers of the external oblique aponeurosis split above the pubic tubercle
** Superior edge: transverse (intercrural) fibers bridge the crura; by dividing the intracrural fibers, the external oblique can be separated along its fibers to gain access to the cord.
* '''Internal inguinal ring'''
** '''Location'''
*** '''Midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle'''
*** '''4 cm lateral to the external ring'''
*** '''Above the inguinal ligament'''
*** '''Lateral to inferior epigastric vessels'''
**** Cord structures pierce the fascia lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels at the internal inguinal ring.[[File:Common Sites of Lower Abdominal Hernias.jpg|thumb|[[commons:File:Common_Sites_of_Lower_Abdominal_Hernias.jpg|Source]]]]
*Conjoint tendon
** Formed by the fusion of the internal oblique and the transversalis fascia
** Reinforces the posterior wall of the inguinal canal.
* '''Hernias into the canal may occur medial (direct) or lateral (indirect) to the inferior epigastric vessels'''

* '''Internal surface of the anterior abdominal wall'''
** '''Approached laparoscopically, 3 elevations of the peritoneum, referred to as the median, medial, and lateral umbilical folds, are visible on the anterior abdominal wall below the umbilicus:'''
*** '''The median fold contains the median umbilical ligament (urachus),''' a fibrous remnant of the cloaca that attaches the bladder to the anterior abdominal wall.
*** '''The medial umbilical fold contains the obliterated umbilical artery''' and serves as an important landmark for the surgeon as it may be traced to its origin from the internal iliac artery to locate the ureter, which lies on its medial side. During the performance of transperitoneal laparoscopic or robotic radical prostatectomy, the medial umbilical folds are used as landmarks to guide the dissection of the bladder to expose the space of Retzius.
*** '''The lateral umbilical fold contains the inferior epigastric vessels''' as they ascend to supply the rectus abdominis.
[[File:Inguinal fossae.png|thumb|[[commons:File:Inguinal_fossae.PNG|Source]]]][[File:Laparoscopic view of inguinal region.jpg|thumb|Laparoscopic view of anterior abdominal wall and pelvis, demonstrating a direct inguinal hernia. a: rectus abdominis; b: inferior epigastric artery; c: inguinal ligament; d: Hesselbach's triangle; e: inguinal hernia. [[commons:File:Laparoscopic_view_of_inguinal_region.jpg|Source]]]]