Inguinal triangle

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 [edit on Wikidata]

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]

See also

• Terms for anatomical location
• Inguinal hernia surgery