Practice questions › Surgery
Lump below and lateral to the pubic tubercle
Surgery · exam-style practice question with explanation
A 65-year-old woman has a tender lump in the groin that lies below and lateral to the pubic tubercle. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Direct inguinal hernia
- B. Femoral hernia
- C. Indirect inguinal hernia
- D. Spigelian hernia
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia passes through the femoral canal, so it appears below and lateral to the pubic tubercle. Inguinal hernias appear above and medial to it. Femoral hernias are commoner in older women and have a high risk of strangulation, so they are repaired urgently.
Key point: Femoral: below and lateral to the pubic tubercle. Inguinal: above and medial.
Practise 10 more like this, free →
Free to start. Unlimited from KES 150/week, paid by M-Pesa.
More Surgery questions
- Fever, jaundice and right upper quadrant pain
- Positive Murphy's sign
- Why appendicitis pain moves to the right iliac fossa
- Fluid resuscitation in burns (Parkland formula)
RecallMed is independent and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any university, the KMPDC, the Nursing Council of Kenya or any examining body. Questions on this site are original, written for revision practice, and are not a substitute for your course materials or clinical guidelines.