Lateral umbilical fold

Lateral umbilical ligament
Posterior view of the anterior abdominal wall in its lower half. The peritoneum is in place, and the various cords are shining through.
The peritoneum of the male pelvis.
Details
Identifiers
Latinplica umbilicalis lateralis; plica epigastrica
TA98A10.1.02.434
TA23796
FMA16537
Anatomical terminology

The lateral umbilical fold is an elevation (on either side of the body) of the peritoneum lining the inner/posterior surface of the lower anterior abdominal wall formed by the underlying inferior epigastric artery and inferior epigastric vein which the peritoneum covers. Superiorly, the lateral umbilical fold ends where the vessels reach and enter the rectus sheath[1] at the arcuate line of rectus sheath; in spite of the name, the lateral umbilical folds do not extend as far superiorly as the umbilicus.[2] Inferiorly, it extends to just medial to the deep inguinal ring.[citation needed]

Each lateral umbilical fold is situated lateral to the ipsilateral medial umbilical fold. Unlike the median and medial umbilical folds, the contents of the lateral umbilical fold remain functional after birth.[2]

Clinical significance

The lateral umbilical fold is an important reference site with regards to hernia classification. A direct hernia occurs medial to the lateral umbilical fold, whereas an indirect hernia originates lateral to the fold. This latter case is due to the placement of the opening of the deep inguinal ring in the space lateral to the lateral umbilical fold, which allows the passage of the ductus deferens, testicular artery, and other components of the spermatic cord in men, or the round ligament of the uterus in women.[citation needed]

Additional images

See also

References

  1. ^ Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 1156. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b Sinnatamby, Chummy (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1152 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  • Lateral umbilical fold