Inguinal region

The inguinal region (iliac region; groin) is a paired region (right and left inguinal regions) located below the lateral region of abdomen and laterally to the hypogastric region.

It is an anatomically complex area located at the junction between the lower abdomen and the thigh. It is clinically significant due to its role in various conditions, such as hernias and chronic groin pain.

Anatomically, the inguinal region includes several key structures:

• The inguinal canal, which is a passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall that in males contains the spermatic cord and in females contains the round ligament of the uterus.

• The inguinal ligament, which runs from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle.

• The superficial and deep inguinal rings, which are openings in the abdominal muscles that allow structures to pass through the inguinal canal.

The region is also notable for its neurovascular components, including the ilioinguinal nerve, the iliohypogastric nerve, and the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, which are important in the context of surgical procedures and postoperative complications such as inguinodynia