To better understand groin swelling, it helps to understand the anatomy of the inguinal area.

The groin is the region of the body where the thigh meets the abdomen. The three major muscles in the groin include:

• Iliopsoas:
• The large muscle that flexes the hip
• Rectus femoris:
• Moves the leg toward the opposite leg
• Sartorius muscle:
• Rotates the leg at the hip

Lymph glands are also present in the groin. The nodes act as filters to fight infection in the body. Lymph nodes can become swollen in response to inflammation. This can make the groin appear to be swollen.