Inguinal Ligament

The inguinal ligament is a strong, fibrous band of tissue in the inguinal area of your groin. Your groin is the fold where the bottom of your abdomen meets your inner thigh. You have two inguinal ligaments — one on each side of your body. Its main job is to support your lower abdomen and pelvis.

The inguinal ligament connects the oblique muscles in your abdomen to your pelvis. Your oblique muscles wrap around the sides of your body, from your ribs to your pelvis. Your pelvis connects your upper body to your lower body.

The inguinal ligament is also called the Poupart’s ligament or the groin ligament.

What’s the purpose of the inguinal ligament?

The inguinal ligament has several important jobs, like:

• Anchoring your oblique muscles, abdomen and pelvis
• Giving your hips flexibility
• Supporting the soft tissues in the groin area
• Supporting nerves and blood vessels as they pass through your groin to your legs

Where is the inguinal ligament?

The inguinal ligament is in your pelvis. They’re two symmetrical bands. Each one starts toward the back of the wing-like bones of your pelvis. The ligaments then run in and down at an angle to the pubic tubercle — that’s at the bottom center of your pelvis, very deep in your groin.

At the bottom of the inguinal ligament are the inguinal ring and the inguinal canal. Both are critical pathways for other structures. If you have a uterus, it passes through your inguinal canal. If you have a spermatic cord, it travels through the inguinal canal to reach your scrotum.

It may be hard to find your inguinal ligament because it’s very deep in your groin and surrounded by layers of muscles and skin. A healthcare provider may be able to feel it during a physical exam. But it’s possible to feel tenderness or pain around the area of your inguinal ligament.

What’s the inguinal ligament made of?

The inguinal ligament is made of fibrous connective tissue that contains collagen (a protein that binds tissue together). It also has elastic fibers that are somewhat stretchy. It’s like a strong and slightly flexible rope.

What are the symptoms of an inguinal ligament injury?

Your symptoms can vary depending on the type of injury you have. Some of them are:

• Pain: Pain can worsen with repetitive or strenuous movements, like bending, twisting or coughing. You may also notice a sharper, stabbing pain in your groin area.
• Tenderness: Your groin area may hurt when you touch it.
• Bruising: Bruising with or without swelling can be a symptom of an injury.
• Weakness or limited range of motion: You may feel like you can’t move your hip or legs in the same way you normally do. Some people explain this feeling as tightness.

These symptoms aren’t always due to an inguinal ligament injury, though. You should see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order tests like X-rays and CT scans to take pictures of your pelvis and groin area.

What conditions affect the inguinal ligament?

Some reasons for discomfort around your inguinal ligament are:

• Inguinal hernia
• Strain or sprain
• Swelling or inflammation
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

How can you fix inguinal ligament pain?

The treatment depends on the cause. It could include:

• Rest, ice, compression and elevation (R.I.C.E): Taking time off from certain activities and caring for the area with ice and elevation can help.
• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can be helpful.
• Physical therapy: Your provider may recommend seeing a physical therapist to help strengthen the muscles around your inguinal ligament.
• Surgery: Surgery may be necessary to repair an inguinal hernia.