Corpus: Adductor hiatus

The adductor hiatus is an arched opening between the two insertion points of the adductor magnus muscle and the femur. The femoral vessels pass through it from the adductor canal into the popliteal fossa.

The adductor hiatus lies at the caudal end of the adductor canal (canalis adductorius), about 8-13 cm in front of the adductor tuberosity. Depending on its shape, it may be bordered on its sides by tendon and/or muscle fibres.

Piercing structures[Bearbeiten]

• Arteria femoralis (becomes the arteria poplitea when it passes through the hiatus)
• Vena femoralis or vena poplitea

The following structures pierce the vastadductor membrane in the adductor canal before reaching the adductor hiatus and run with the great saphenous vein from medial to distal:

• Arteria genus descendens, saphenous ramus
• Saphenous nerve, separation of the femoral nerve

Supracondylar femoral fractures near the adductor hiatus can injure the femoral artery, which can lead to severe blood loss and impairment of the blood supply to the lower leg. Irregular anatomical variants of the femoral or popliteal artery at the adductor hiatus can cause entrapment syndrome.