Adductor canal
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Ali Saif Eldin Ahmed Mohamed ElHassan had no recorded disclosures.
View Ali Saif Eldin Ahmed Mohamed ElHassan's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Kajanan Nithiyananthan had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Kajanan Nithiyananthan's current disclosures- Subsartorial canal
- Hunter canal
- Hunter's canal
The adductor canal (also known as Hunter's canal or the subsartorial canal) is a muscular tunnel in the anterior compartment of the thigh. It serves to transmit several important neurovascular structures from the femoral triangle through the thigh into the popliteal fossa.
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Gross anatomy
Location
The adductor canal is located in the medial aspect of the anterior compartment of the thigh and is V-shaped on the axial section. It commences at the apex of the femoral triangle and extends inferiorly to the distal attachment of the adductor longus 7.
Several sources ref incorrectly state the distal extent of the canal to be the adductor hiatus. While the femoral neurovascular structures pass through the adductor hiatus to enter the popliteal fossa, other structures outlined below continue to its inferior extent ref.
Boundaries
posteromedially: adductor longus (superiorly) and adductor magnus (inferiorly)
anterolaterally: vastus medialis muscle
roof (anteromedial): subsartorial fascia (deep to sartorius) and the subsartorial plexus
Contents
descending genicular artery and vein
muscular branches of the femoral artery and corresponding veins
nerve to vastus medialis muscle
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Relations
femoral artery is always between the femoral vein and saphenous nerve
femoral vein spirals from medial to the artery in the femoral triangle to posterior to the artery in the adductor canal
femoral artery gives descending genicular artery as it leaves the adductor hiatus
History and etymology
The adductor canal was discovered by renowned Scottish surgeon John Hunter (1728-1793), as part of his pioneering work in treating popliteal aneurysms by ligating the femoral artery (standard treatment in the 18th century was amputation). His older brother was William Hunter (1718-1783), also a well-known anatomist and obstetrician 4-6.
Related pathology
References
- 1. A. M. R. Agur, Arthur F. Dalley, John Charles Boileau Grant. Grant's Atlas of Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781608317561 - Google Books
- 2. Sam Jacob. Human Anatomy. (2007) ISBN: 9780443103735 - Google Books
- 3. Carmine D. Clemente. Clemente's Anatomy Dissector. (2010) ISBN: 9781608313846 - Google Books
- 4. Evans C. John Hunter and the Origins of Modern Orthopaedic Research. J Orthop Res. 2007;25(4):556-60. doi:10.1002/jor.20386 - Pubmed
- 5. Kaya Y & Sindel A. John Hunter (1728-1793) and His Legacy to Science. Childs Nerv Syst. 2016;32(6):1015-7. doi:10.1007/s00381-015-2852-x - Pubmed
- 6. Dunn P. Dr William Hunter (1718-83) and the Gravid Uterus. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1999;80(1):F76-7. doi:10.1136/fn.80.1.f76 - Pubmed
- 7. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2020) ISBN: 9780702077050 - Google Books
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