Dorlands
/Elsevier h_11/12422064 FMA 58767 | TA A04.7.03.016 | |
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Latin hiatus saphenus, fossa ovalis femoris | ||
In anatomy, the saphenous opening (saphenous hiatus, also fossa ovalis) is an oval opening in the upper mid part of the fascia lata of the thigh. It lies 3–4 cm below and lateral to the pubic tubercle and is about 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
Structure
Below the pubic tubercle the fascia extends downwards forming an arched (falciform) margin of the lateral boundary of the opening. It is covered by a thin perforated part of the superficial fascia called the fascia cribrosa which is pierced by the great saphenous vein, the 3 superficial branches of the femoral artery, and lymphatics.
It transmits the great saphenous vein and other smaller vessels including the superficial epigastric artery and superficial external pudendal artery, as well as the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve.
The fascia cribrosa, which is pierced by the structures passing through the opening, closes the aperture and must be removed to expose it.