What is the Hesselbach triangle?
The Hesselbach triangle, also called the inguinal triangle, is a region of the lower, anterior abdominal wall, or groin, that was first described by Frank Hesselbach, a German surgeon and anatomist, in 1806. It describes a potential area of weakness in the abdominal wall, through which a
hernia can protrude. A hernia is defined as a
protrusion of an organ or fascia, a thin
sheath of tissue that encloses a muscle or organ, through the wall that usually contains it. A hernia of the anterior abdominal wall is typically a protrusion of the
intestines.The Hesselbach triangle is located in the
anterior abdominal wall bilaterally (on both the right and left sides) and has three major boundaries :
1/ the
medial boundary consisting of the
rectus abdominis muscle;
the
2/ lateral boundary consisting of the
inferior epigastric vessels, which supply the anterior abdominal wall ; and the
3/ inferior boundary consisting of the
inguinal ligament, a narrow band of tissue in the
pelvic region of the
body A direct inguinal hernia protrudes through the Hesselbach
triangle, while an
indirect inguinal hernia does not. However,
both types of
hernia will likely
involve intestines or
bowel.
A direct inguinal hernia typically occurs in
older age from weakness in the abdominal wall due to.
A direct inguinal hernia occurs when the
intestines protrude through the Hesselbach
triangle into the
inguinal canal, a short passageway in the anterior abdomen which allows structures to
transverse the abdominal wall to the
external genitalia. Once in the inguinal canal, the hernia can then
pass through and
exit the inguinal canal
through the superficial inguinal ring. This
protrusion creates the
characteristic lump in the groin that can be seen with a direct inguinal hernia
Conversely, an
indirect inguinal hernia occurs most frequently in
males during both
infancy and in
older age, due to an
incomplete closure of the deep inguinal ring,
or entrance of the inguinal canal. In males, the deep inguinal ring, which allows the
testicles to drop during
puberty, is generally closed once the testicles descend into the
scrotum. However,
if it does
not close completely, an
indirect inguinal hernia can develop.
Unlike a direct inguinal hernia, which only penetrates the superficial inguinal ring of the inguinal canal after creating its own entrance into the inguinal canal, an
indirect inguinal hernia enters the inguinal canal
through both the
deep inguinal ring and the
superficial inguinal ring
before protruding, most commonly, into the
scrotum.
An indirect inguinal hernia does not protrude through a weakness in the wall of the Hesselbach triangle.If weakened, the Hesselbach triangle can allow for the
protrusion of the intestines through the wall, known as a
direct inguinal hernia. This region is bound by the
inguinal ligament, inferior epigastric vessel, and
rectus abdominis muscle. While a direct inguinal hernia protrudes through a weakness in the muscle of Hesselbach’s triangle, an
indirect inguinal hernia does not. Additionally, an indirect inguinal hernia will protrude through both the superficial and deep inguinal ring, whereas the direct inguinal hernia will only protrude through the superficial inguinal ring.
https://www.osmosis.org/answers/Hesselbach-triangleAbdominal hernias
Questions
https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Abdominal_hernias?query=Abdominal%2520hernias&language=enhttps://teachmeanatomy.info/abdomen/areas/inguinal-canal/