The cribriform fascia (also known as the fascia cribrosa, or Hesselbach's fascia) is the portion of the superficial layer of the deep fascia of leg which extends between the sartorius muscle, adductor longus muscle, and inguinal ligament to form the anterior portion of the femoral canal. The cribriform fascia forms numerous openings to allow the passage of vessels and nerves, the most prominent of these being the saphenous opening (saphenous hiatus) (which gives passage to the great saphenous vein).

Anatomy

Structure

An inferior aponeurotic thickening of the cribriform fascia - the falciform margin of sphenous opening - forms the inferior margin of the sapnenous opening, embracing the arch of the great saphenous vein.

Clinical significance

The cribriform fascia has been proposed for use in preventing new vascularization when surgery is performed at the join between the great saphenous vein and the femoral vein.

Eponym

When the eponym is used, it is named for Franz Kaspar Hesselbach.