Inguinal canal

The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior (toward the front of the body) abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament. The inguinal canal is larger and more prominent in men.

Site
The inguinal canal is situated just above the medial half of the inguinal ligament.

Length
Approximately 1.5 inches.

Direction
It is directed downwards, forwards and medially.

Boundaries
One way to remember these structures is with the mnemonic "MALT", starting at the top and going counterclockwise:
 * M - muscles
 * A - aponeuroses
 * L - ligaments
 * T - transversalis/tendon

Contents

 * in males : the spermatic cord and its coverings + the ilio inguinal nerve.
 * in females : the round ligament of the uterus + the ilio inguinal nerve.

Development
During development in men the testes descend from their starting point near the kidneys down the abdomen and through the inguinal canal to reach the scrotum.

Disorders
Abdominal contents (potentially including intestine) can be abnormally displaced from the abdominal cavity. Where these contents exit through the inguinal canal the condition is known as an indirect inguinal hernia. This condition is far more common in men than in women, owing to the inguinal canal's small size in women. A hernia that exits the abdominal cavity directly through the deep layers of the abdominal wall, thereby bypassing the inguinal canal, is known as a direct inguinal hernia.