The femoral sheath is a fascial compartment that encloses structures as they pass beneath the inguinal ligament. From lateral to medial, what is the correct arrangement of the contents?

• A Femoral artery — femoral vein — femoral canal (with lymphatics and deep inguinal node of Cloquet) ✓
• B Femoral nerve — femoral artery — femoral vein — femoral canal
• C Femoral artery — femoral nerve — femoral vein — femoral canal
• D Femoral vein — femoral artery — femoral canal — femoral nerve

Explanation

The femoral sheath (a prolongation of the extraperitoneal fascia) encloses — from lateral to medial — the femoral artery, femoral vein, and the femoral canal. The femoral canal is the medial-most compartment and contains fat, lymphatics, and the deep inguinal (Cloquet's) lymph node; it allows venous expansion. Crucially, the femoral nerve is NOT enclosed within the femoral sheath — it lies lateral to the femoral sheath within the iliacus fascia. This is clinically important: femoral hernias pass through the femoral canal, medial to the vein.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.