The femoral nerve block at the inguinal ligament level — the nerve lies lateral to the femoral artery in the femoral triangle. The correct mnemonic for the lateral-to-medial order of structures under the inguinal ligament is:

• A IVAN (Iliacus, Vein, Artery, Nerve)
• B LAVE (Lymphatics, Artery, Vein, Empty)
• C VENAL (Vein, Empty, Nerve, Artery, Lymphatics)
• D NAVEL (Nerve, Artery, Vein, Empty space, Lymphatics) ✓

Explanation

The mnemonic NAVEL (lateral to medial under the inguinal ligament) is: Nerve (femoral nerve — lateral, outside femoral sheath), Artery (femoral artery), Vein (femoral vein), Empty space (the femoral canal), and Lymphatics (the lymph node of Cloquet in the femoral canal). The femoral canal is the medial compartment — site of femoral hernias. The nerve, being lateral and outside the femoral sheath, is the target for femoral nerve blocks.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.