Which structure lies immediately lateral to the femoral sheath?

Which structure lies immediately lateral to the femoral sheath?

• A. Femoral nerve
• B. Femoral artery
• C. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
• D. Femoral vein

Answer: (A)

Think about the femoral triangle and the femoral sheath. The sheath encloses the femoral artery, the femoral vein, and the femoral canal (lymphatics). The femoral nerve lies outside the sheath, in the lateral part of the triangle, so it sits immediately to the side of the sheath. In the standard lateral-to-medial order of the contents of the femoral triangle, you have nerve, artery, vein, and canal. That arrangement makes the nerve the structure immediately lateral to the sheath. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is located more superficially and laterally away from the sheath, while the artery and vein themselves reside inside the sheath.

Think about the femoral triangle and the femoral sheath. The sheath encloses the femoral artery, the femoral vein, and the femoral canal (lymphatics). The femoral nerve lies outside the sheath, in the lateral part of the triangle, so it sits immediately to the side of the sheath. In the standard lateral-to-medial order of the contents of the femoral triangle, you have nerve, artery, vein, and canal. That arrangement makes the nerve the structure immediately lateral to the sheath. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is located more superficially and laterally away from the sheath, while the artery and vein themselves reside inside the sheath.