title: The inguinal ligament and its lateral attachments: correcting an anatomical error.
abstract: The inguinal portions of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles are generally described as arising from the inguinal ligament. Previous authors have shown that this description is incorrect. A new dissection study in 15 lightly embalmed cadavers confirms that in reality the inguinal portions of these muscles arise from a thickened strip of ilipsoas fascia that forms the superolateral part of the ilio-pectineal arch. Details are given of a new dissection technique that fully exposes the deep aspect of the inguinal ligament, without disrupting its continuity. The historical background of the persistent textbook error is explored. It originated at a time when there was widespread descriptive and semantic confusion regarding the structure now known as the inguinal ligament.
authors: Fresh Tissue Dissection Laboratory, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA. bob.acland@louisville.edu
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Acland
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D016658:Psoas Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology