Adductor canal
Last revised by Yahya Baba ◉ on 27 Jan 2021
Citation, DOI & article data
Citation:
ElHassan A, Baba Y, Neto A, et al. Adductor canal. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Feb 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-32946
rID:
32946
Article created:
26 Dec 2014 by Ali Saif Eldin Ahmed Mohamed ElHassan
Revisions:
12 times by 10 users - see full revision history
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Subsartorial canal
- Hunter canal
- Hunter's canal
The adductor canal (also known as the Hunter canal or subsartorial canal) is a muscular tunnel in the thigh. It commences at the inferior end of the femoral triangle and terminates at the adductor hiatus.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Boundaries
- from apex of the femoral triangle to the adductor hiatus
- anteriorly: sartorius muscle, fascia, subsartorial plexus
- posteromedially: adductor longus (superiorly) and adductor magnus (inferiorly)
- laterally: vastus medialis muscle
Contents
- superficial femoral artery and vein
- saphenous nerve
- nerve to vastus medialis muscle
Key relationships
- 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.
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Related pathology
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Grant's Atlas of Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1608317560. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Human anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0443103739. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Clemente CD. Clemente's Anatomy Dissector. LWW. ISBN:1608313840. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. John Hunter and the origins of modern orthopaedic research. (2007) Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 25 (4): 556. doi:10.1002/jor.20386 - Pubmed
- 5. Kaya Y, Sindel A. John Hunter (1728-1793) and his legacy to science. (2016) Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. 32 (6): 1015-7. doi:10.1007/s00381-015-2852-x - Pubmed
- 6. Dunn PM. Dr William Hunter (1718-83) and the gravid uterus. (1999) Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition. 80 (1): F76-7. doi:10.1136/fn.80.1.f76 - Pubmed
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