inguinal fossa

The lateral inguinal fossa is a structure described in human anatomy.

The medial inguinal fossa, and therefore a direct inguinal hernia, is lateral to it.

It may be used as a landmark for surgeons exploring the medial inguinal fossa during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

The inguinal triangle contains a depression referred to as the medial inguinal fossa, through which direct inguinal hernias protrude through the abdominal wall.

The medial inguinal fossa is a depression located within the inguinal triangle on the peritoneal surface of the anterior abdominal wall between the ridges formed by the lateral umbilical fold and the medial umbilical ligament, corresponding to the superficial inguinal ring.

A direct inguinal hernia protrudes through a weakened area in the transversalis fascia near the medial inguinal fossa within an anatomic region known as the inguinal or Hesselbach's triangle, an area defined by the edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, the inguinal ligament and the inferior epigastric artery.