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| Saphenous opening | |
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| The fossa ovalis. | |
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| Front of right thigh, showing surface markings for bones, femoral artery and femoral nerve. (Fossa ovalis visible at upper right.) | |
| Latin | hiatus saphenus, fossa ovalis femoris |
| Gray's | subject #128 469 |
- For the structure in the heart, see Fossa ovalis.
- Definition: An oval opening in the superomedial part of the fascia lata, lies 3-4cm inferolateral to the pubic tubercle. It is about 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
- Description: •Above, lateral and below → sharp border called falciform margin. •Covered by a thin perforated part of the superficial fascia called the cribriform fascia (pierced by the great saphenous vein, the 3 superficial branches of the femoral A., and lymphatics).
It transmits the great saphenous vein and other smaller vessels (like superficial epigastric artery and superficial external pudendal artery), as well as the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve.
The cribriform fascia, which is pierced by the structures passing through the opening, closes the aperture and must be removed to expose it.
Additional images
 The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis. |
External links
- Saphenous+opening at eMedicine Dictionary
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