Saphenous opening
The fossa ovalis.
Front of right thigh, showing surface markings for bones, femoral artery and femoral nerve. (Fossa ovalis visible at upper right.)
Latin	hiatus saphenus, fossa ovalis femoris
Gray's	subject #128 469

For the structure in the heart, see Fossa ovalis.

The saphenous opening is an oval opening in the superomedial part of the fascia lata, lies 3-4cm inferolateral to the pubic tubercle. It is about 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.

[edit] Description

•Above, lateral and below → sharp border called falciform margin. •Covered by a thin perforated part of the superficial fascia called the cribriform fascia (pierced by the great saphenous vein, the 3 superficial branches of the femoral A., and lymphatics).

It transmits the great saphenous vein and other smaller vessels (like superficial epigastric artery and superficial external pudendal artery), as well as the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve.

The cribriform fascia, which is pierced by the structures passing through the opening, closes the aperture and must be removed to expose it.

[edit] Additional images

The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis.

[edit] External links

• Saphenous+opening at eMedicine Dictionary

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v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs (TA A04.7, GA 4.465) ILIAC Region / ILIOPSOAS psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus BUTTOCKS gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) · tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: quadratus femoris · inferior gemellus · obturator internus · superior gemellus · piriformis THIGH / compartments Anterior sartorius · quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) · articularis genu Posterior/hamstring biceps femoris · semitendinosus · semimembranosus Medial pectineus · obturator externus · gracilis · adductor (longus, brevis, magnus) Fascia Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) · Femoral ring Adductor canal · Adductor hiatus fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · peroneus tertius Posterior superficial · triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles tendon) · plantaris deep · tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) · popliteus Lateral peroneus muscles (longus, brevis) Fascia Pes anserinus crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) FOOT Dorsal extensor hallucis brevis · extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) · 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis) · 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei) Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)