Inguinal ligament

Overview
The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.

It forms the base of the inguinal canal which is the place from where the inguinal hernia develops.

The inguinal ligament runs from the anterior superior iliac spine of the ilium to the pubic tubercle of the pubic bone. It is formed by the external abdominal oblique aponeurosis and is continuous with the fascia lata of the thigh.

Eponym
It is also referred to as Poupart's ligament, because Poupart gave it its relevance to hernial repair (he called it "le suspenseur de l'abdomen", the suspender of the abdomen). It is less frequently termed the Fallopian ligament.

Function
The ligament serves to contain soft tissues as they course anteriorly from the trunk to the lower extremity. This structure demarcates the superior border of the femoral triangle.