The groin region is a part of the abdominal wall and connects the pelvis to the thighs. Thus, the groin performs support functions and holds the abdominal organs in the abdominal cavity. In hernias, the abdominal organs pass through the inguinal canal.
What is the groin region?
In the groin region of humans, the abdomen and thigh merge. Thus, for humans, the groin is the lateral lower part of the abdominal wall, so to speak. In other mammals, this region forms the lateral posterior part of the abdominal wall. In its upper region, the groin region of any human forms the line connecting the two iliac crests of the pelvis. These two ridges are also the upper boundary of the groin. In animals, on the other hand, the groin forms a connecting line for the anterior end of the ilium, which delimits the groin at the top. Thus, the lateral boundary of the human groin and, in animals, the anterior groin boundary forms the pelvis itself. The lateral contour of the straight abdominal muscle provides the middle boundary. Downward, the groin region borders the pubic region, which lies between the groins, so to speak.
Anatomy and structure
Cranially, the facia lata is attached to the groin via the so-called inguinal ligament. This is a connective tissue sheath of the thigh that extends downward from the inguinal ligament. This connective tissue sheath is covered by fatty tissue. Below the facia lata in the groin region lie the so-called inguinal lymph nodes with their vascular system. Overall, the inguinal region consists of various compartments, which are predominantly bounded by connective tissue septa in depth. The most important compartments are the lacuna musculorum, which is also known as the lateral compartment of the groin. The lacuna vasorum, on the other hand, forms the medial compartment. Several arteries and veins run through the superficial structure of the groin. The so-called inguinal canal is considered the natural weak point of the inguinal region. The inner opening of the inguinal canal is also known as the inner inguinal ring and the outer one as the outer inguinal ring.
Function and tasks
The inguinal region primarily performs supportive functions. It provides the connection between the pelvis and the legs, performing stabilizing functions. For example, the inguinal ligament serves to suspend the connective tissue sheaths of both thighs. It also contains the so-called adductors. These are thigh muscles that enable the legs to be pulled together. They are stabilized by tendons and protected by the sheath of connective tissue. Since the groin region basically makes up the lateral lower abdominal wall, it also serves to protect the abdominal organs. These organs surround the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen and intestines, as well as the stomach. The groin thus holds the contents of the abdominal cavity within the abdominal wall. However, the inguinal lymph nodes of the groin region also have important functions in the body. In particular, they receive lymphatic inflow from the legs, external genitalia and gluteal region. Like all lymph nodes, those of the groin are part of the immune system. Therefore, they play an increased role in the defense against infections and also protect the surrounding tissues from inflammation. The inguinal canal fulfills different functions for both sexes. In the male, the inguinal canal contains one spermatic cord each. In the female, on the other hand, the mammary ligament is contained in this structure. In hoofed animals, the inguinal region has even more important tasks in this context. In female ungulates, the udder is located in this region of the body. In goat species, a sebaceous gland is also attached to the side of it.
Diseases
Hernia is probably the best known disease of the inguinal region. This phenomenon is also known as hernia. Because of the weak point inguinal canal, the groin is vulnerable to such phenomena by itself. In hernias, abdominal tissue above the inguinal ligament passes through the inguinal canal. The hernial orifice of a direct inguinal hernia is located in the Hesselbach triangle, a region of the abdominal wall that is free of muscle and therefore extremely unstable. Men are more prone to inguinal hernias than women. During embryonic development, men’s testicles pass through the inguinal canal, so their inguinal region is often looser from birth than women’s. Not all groin symptoms are due to an inguinal hernia.Injuries or overloading of muscles and tendons in the pelvic region or the hips and thighs are often responsible for pain in the groin region. Complaints in the hip joints can also radiate to the groin region, such as arthrosis or necrosis. Sometimes varicose veins form in the groin, which can also cause pain. Swelling of the groin region may be indicative of an inguinal hernia. On the other hand, the lymph nodes of the groin can also cause swelling. This occurs, for example, with inflammation of the surrounding tissue. The same applies to infections or general immune reactions. In rarer cases, the lymph nodes of the groin region are also affected by tumors. Women often feel groin pain after the birth of a child. In most cases, this discomfort is related to a loosening of the hip ring due to childbirth. Sometimes groin pain is also preceded by fractures of the pubic or ischial bone. In still other cases, testicular pain radiates to the groin or general body statics are disturbed. In the latter case, abnormal stresses occur that both damage the joints and cause groin pain.
