Which neurovascular structure within the femoral triangle lies most medially?

Explanation

## Neurovascular Contents of the Femoral Triangle The femoral triangle contains the femoral artery, vein, and nerve, arranged in a specific medial-to-lateral sequence: | Medial to Lateral Sequence | Structure | Mnemonic | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 (Most medial) | Femoral vein | **V** | | 2 | Femoral artery | **A** | | 3 (Most lateral) | Femoral nerve | **N** | **Mnemonic:** **"VAN"** — Vein, Artery, Nerve (from medial to lateral). This is the reverse of the more commonly taught "NAVy" mnemonic, which lists them lateral to medial. **Key Point:** The femoral vein is the most medial structure and lies posteromedial to the femoral artery within the femoral sheath. **High-Yield:** When performing femoral artery puncture or catheterization, the needle is inserted lateral to the femoral vein to avoid venous injury. The femoral nerve lies lateral to the artery and is at risk during overly lateral needle placement. **Clinical Pearl:** The femoral vein may be compressed against the pectineus muscle (part of the floor) to achieve hemostasis after femoral artery puncture — this is why understanding the medial position of the vein is clinically important.