Final answer:
Femoral hernias are characterized by a bulge lower in the groin through the femoral ring, inferior to the inguinal ligament, and may extend into the thigh.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hernias being described are femoral hernias, which present with a bulge lower in the groin through the femoral ring and may extend into the thigh. This bulge is typically positioned inferior to the inguinal ligament, which distinguishes femoral hernias from inguinal hernias. Unlike the iliofemoral ligament, which is an intrinsic ligament on the superior-anterior aspect of the hip joint, and the interosseous membrane found in the forearm and leg, a femoral hernia is a protrusion of tissue through the femoral ring. The iliofemoral ligament is involved in stabilizing the hip, while the interosseous membrane connects parallel bones in the forearm and leg, but neither is directly related to femoral hernias.