The pubic tubercle is a prominent
tubercle
In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal.
In plants
A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...
on the
superior ramus of the
pubis bone 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 ...
.
Structure
The pubic tubercle is a prominent forward-projecting
tubercle
In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal.
In plants
A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...
on the upper border of the medial portion of the
superior ramus of the
pubis bone. 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 ...
attaches to it.
Part of the
abdominal external oblique muscle inserts onto it.
The
inferior epigastric artery
In human anatomy, inferior epigastric artery refers to the artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery. Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the inferior epig ...
passes between the pubic tubercle and the
anterior superior iliac spine
The anterior superior iliac spine (abbreviated: ASIS) is a bony projection of the iliac bone, and an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis. It provides attachment for the ing ...
. The pubic spine is a rough ridge that extends from the pubic tubercle to the upper border of the pubic symphysis.
Clinical significance
The pubic tubercle may be
palpated
Palpation is the process of using one's hands to check the body, especially while perceiving/diagnosing a disease or illness. Usually performed by a health care practitioner, it is the process of feeling an object in or on the body to determine ...
.
It serves as a landmark for
local anaesthetic
A local anesthetic (LA) is a medication that causes absence of pain sensation. In the context of surgery, a local anesthetic creates an absence of pain in a specific location of the body without a loss of consciousness, as opposed to a general ...
of the
genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, which lies slightly lateral to the pubic tubercle.
This may also be used for the
obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.
Structure
The o ...
.
Hernias
The pubic tubercle is a useful landmark for identifying hernias.
An inguinal hernia will lie anteromedial to the pubic tubercle.
A femoral hernia will lie inferolateral to the pubic tubercle.
References
External links
* - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Osteology and Surface Anatomy"
* - "The Male Pelvis: Hip Bone"
* - "The Coverings of the Inguinal Canal, External & Internal Oblique & Transversus Abdominis Removed"
* (, , )
Photo at nysora.comArticle and diagram at studentbmj.com
{{Authority control
Skeletal system
Bones of the pelvis
Pubis (bone)