Gimbernate Ligament

GIMBERNATE LIGAMENT (Ligamentum lacunare Gimbernati), named after A. Gimbernati who described it («Nuevo metodo de operar en la hernia crural», 1793), represents tendon fibers detached from the medial end of the Poupart ligament (lig. inguinale Pouparti), which, turning and continuing along the pectineal line (pecten ossis pubis), pass into the fascia pectinea and obturatoria and form a triangular plate located almost horizontally (in the vertical position of the body) [see volume III (art. 100), figs. 1 and 2]. It fills the angle formed by the Poupart ligament with the pectineal line; its free edge looks laterally and appears sharpened and slightly concave. The continuation of the G. l. is called lig. ilio-pubicum Cooperi. Both of these ligaments participate in limiting the lacuna vasorum, with lig. lacunare located medially, posteriorly and inferiorly, and lig. Cooperi and lig. ilio-pectineum laterally. The external inguinal ring (annulus inguinalis externus, s. subcutaneus) is bounded medially and inferiorly by fibers extending from the attachment point of lig. lacunare to the pectineal line and located on the posterior surface of the aponeurosis of the rectus abdominis muscle; they extend upward and medially from the Gimbernate ligament and are called lig. inguinale reflexum Collesi (see separate plate for art. Femoral canal, fig. 2).