BACKGROUND:The present study shows the anatomical aspects, the incidence, the origin and the location of the artery that transits through the posterior wall of inguinal canal, allowing the avoidance of accidents during the surgeon interventions in this region. METHODS: The authors performed dissection of 40 inguinal regions in cadavers. RESULTS: In 33 cases (95%) there was an artery, occasionaly, of insignificant caliber, that was present in the posterior inguinal canal. In 27/38 cases (67.5%), this artery represented the "Mortal Crown", as constituted by an anomalous origin of the obturatory artery emerging from the inferior epigstric artery or because of its anastomosis between the inferior epigastric artery and the obturatory artery. In the remaining 11/38 cases (27.5%), there was an artery of a reduced caliber, which emerged from the inferior epigastric artery, with a short tract on the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. CONCLUSION: The existence of the "Mortal Crown", on the posterior wall of the inguinal canal, always implicates risks at the inguinal herniorrhaphy.
Hernia, inguinal; Abdomen; Surgery; Anatomy, regional
