The iliac fascia, or Abernethy's fascia, is a fascia in the region of the ilium of the

pelvis The pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton). The ...

. It has the following connections: * ''laterally'', to the whole length of the inner lip of the

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superiolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterior ...

. * ''medially'', to the

linea terminalis The linea terminalis or innominate line consists of the pubic crest, pectineal line (pecten pubis), the arcuate line, the sacral ala, and the sacral promontory. It is the pelvic brim, which is the edge of the pelvic inlet. The pelvic inlet is t ...

of the

lesser pelvis The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet (the superior opening of the pelvis). Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor. The pelvic cavity primarily contains the reproducti ...

, where it is continuous with the

periosteum The periosteum is a membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones, except at the articular surfaces (i.e. the parts within a joint space) of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of the medullary cavity of all long bones. Structure ...

. At the

iliopectineal eminence Medial to the anterior inferior iliac spine is a broad, shallow groove, over which the iliacus and psoas major muscles pass. This groove is bounded medially by an eminence, the iliopubic eminence (or iliopectineal eminence), which marks the point o ...

it receives the tendon of insertion of the

Psoas minor The psoas minor muscle ( or ; from grc, ψόᾱ, psóā, muscles of the loins) is a long, slender skeletal muscle. When present, it is located anterior to the psoas major muscle.Tank (2005), p 93Gray (2008), p 1372 Structure The psoas minor mu ...

, when that muscle exists. Lateral to the

femoral vessel The femoral vessels are those blood vessels passing through the femoral ring into the femoral canal thereby passing down the length of the thigh until behind the knee. These large vessel are the: * Femoral artery (also known in this location a ...

s it is intimately connected to the posterior margin of the

inguinal ligament The inguinal ligament (), also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the inguinal canal through which an indirect inguinal hernia may dev ...

, and is continuous with the

transversalis fascia The transversalis fascia (or transverse fascia) is a thin aponeurotic membrane of the abdomen. It lies between the inner surface of the transverse abdominal muscle and the parietal peritoneum. It forms part of the general layer of fascia lining ...

. Immediately lateral to the femoral vessels the iliac fascia is prolonged backward and medialward from the inguinal ligament as a band, the

iliopectineal fascia The Iliopectineal arch is a thickened band of fused iliac fascia and psoas fascia passing from the posterior aspect of the inguinal ligament anteriorly across the front of the femoral nerve to attach to the iliopubic eminence of the hip bone post ...

, which is attached to the iliopectineal eminence. This fascia divides the space between the inguinal ligament and the hip bone into two lacunæ or compartments: * the ''medial''

vascular lacuna The vascular lacuna (Latin: ''lacuna vasorum'') is the compartment beneath the inguinal ligament which allows for passage of the femoral vessels, lymph vessels and lymph nodes. Its boundaries are the iliopectineal arch, the inguinal ligament, ...

transmits the femoral vessels. * the ''lateral''

muscular lacuna The muscular lacuna (Latin: ''lacuna musculorum'') is the lateral compartment of the thigh inferior to the inguinal ligament, for the passage of the iliopsoas muscle, the femoral nerve and the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh The lateral ...

transmits the

Psoas major The psoas major ( or ; from grc, ψόᾱ, psóā, muscles of the loins) is a long fusiform muscle located in the lateral lumbar region between the vertebral column and the brim of the lesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliop ...

and

Iliacus The iliacus is a flat, triangular muscle which fills the iliac fossa. It forms the lateral portion of iliopsoas, providing flexion of the thigh and lower limb at the acetabulofemoral joint. Structure The iliacus arises from the iliac fossa on ...

and the

femoral nerve The femoral nerve is a nerve in the thigh that supplies skin on the upper thigh and inner leg, and the muscles that extend the knee. Structure The femoral nerve is the major nerve supplying the anterior compartment of the thigh. It is the largest ...

. Medial to the vessels the iliac fascia is attached to the pectineal line behind the

conjoint tendon The conjoint tendon (previously known as the inguinal aponeurotic falx) is a sheath of connective tissue formed from the lower part of the common aponeurosis of the abdominal internal oblique muscle and the transversus abdominis muscle, joining ...

, where it is again continuous with the transversalis fascia.

References

Pelvis Fascia {{musculoskeletal-stub

See also

References