Superficial inguinal ring
Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for arteries and inguinal canal. (Subcutaneous inguinal ring labeled at lower left.)
The subcutaneous inguinal ring.
Latin	annulus inguinalis superficialis
Gray's	subject #286 1315

In the aponeurosis of the external oblique, immediately above the crest of the pubis, is a triangular opening, the subcutaneous inguinal ring (superficial inguinal ring, external inguinal ring), formed by a separation of the fibers of the aponeurosis.

The subcutaneous inguinal ring is situated 1 centimeter above and lateral to the pubic tubercle. It has medial and lateral crura. It is at the layer of the aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus abdominis.¹

The superficial inguinal ring forms the exit of the inguinal canal, through which the ilioinguinal nerve, the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, and the spermatic cord (in men) or the round ligament (in women) pass. The deep inguinal ring is the entrance to the inguinal canal.²

Clinical significance

The superficial ring is dilated in a condition called athletic pubalgia.

See also

• Inguinal canal
• Inguinal hernia
• Deep inguinal ring

References

External links

• SUNY Labs 35:09-0101 - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Borders of the Superficial Inguinal Ring"
• SUNY Figs 36:01-13 - "The inguinal canal and derivation of the layers of the spermatic cord."
• 543883342 at GPnotebook

Diagram of an indirect, scrotal inguinal hernia ( median view from the left). The external inguinal ring is labeled.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.