The femoral artery enters the femoral triangle by passing deep to which structure?

Explanation

## Femoral Artery Entry into the Femoral Triangle The femoral artery is the continuation of the external iliac artery and enters the femoral triangle at a specific anatomical point. **Key Point:** The femoral artery passes **deep to the inguinal ligament** at the midinguinal point (midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and pubic symphysis) to enter the femoral triangle. This is where it becomes accessible for clinical procedures. **High-Yield:** The inguinal ligament is the superior boundary of the femoral triangle. The femoral artery passes beneath it at the femoral point, which is located at the junction of the medial and middle thirds of the inguinal ligament. **Mnemonic:** **VAN** (Vein, Artery, Nerve) — From lateral to medial, the femoral vein, artery, and nerve pass deep to the inguinal ligament in that order within the femoral sheath. **Clinical Pearl:** The femoral pulse is palpated just below the inguinal ligament at the midinguinal point. This is the standard site for femoral artery catheterization and is located approximately 1 cm medial to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament.