Expansion
The area of Fruchaud, bounded by rectus, the oblique muscles, the iliopubic tract and the pubic ramus
Expansion
The myopectineal orifice of Fruchaud is bounded by:
- Superiorly - the arching fibres of internal oblique and transversus abdominis
- Medially - the lateral border of rectus abdominis
- Laterally - iliopsoas
- Inferiorly - the pecten pubis and Cooper’s ligament
It is divided by the inguinal ligament into an upper part (transmitting the spermatic cord, and the site of direct and indirect hernias) and a lower part (transmitting the femoral vessels, and the site of femoral hernias).
The only barrier across the whole orifice is the transversalis fascia, which is why it is the inherent weak point of the human groin, a consequence of upright posture.
Recognising it as a single defect changed hernia surgery: a mesh laid to cover the entire orifice, as in laparoscopic repair, addresses all three hernia types at once and prevents the others developing later.