DocGuy
ANATOMY
Medicine Made Simple
, Nerves of Lower Limb
Lumbar plexus (posterior abdominal wall)
Femoral nerve
Nerve of the extensor compartment of thigh
Root value - Posterior Divisions of Ant. Primary rami L2, L3, L4
Course
Starts from the lumbar plexus
Emerges at the lateral border of psoas major in abdomen then lies in the iliac fossa
between psoas and iliacus.
Enters thigh by passing deep to inguinal ligament, at the lateral edge of the femoral
sheath, which separates it from the femoral artery. (Lies behind iliacus fascia)
Lies between iliacus and psoas tendons in the femoral triangle
Not a content of the femoral sheath
Divides into branches immediately (~4cm distal to the inguinal lig)
Branches
Iliacus is supplied by the nerve in the abdomen.
As it enters the femoral triangle, it gives off the branch to Pectineus, which passes behind
the femoral sheath to reach the muscle.
1
ANATOMY
Medicine Made Simple
, Nerves of Lower Limb
Lumbar plexus (posterior abdominal wall)
Femoral nerve
Nerve of the extensor compartment of thigh
Root value - Posterior Divisions of Ant. Primary rami L2, L3, L4
Course
Starts from the lumbar plexus
Emerges at the lateral border of psoas major in abdomen then lies in the iliac fossa
between psoas and iliacus.
Enters thigh by passing deep to inguinal ligament, at the lateral edge of the femoral
sheath, which separates it from the femoral artery. (Lies behind iliacus fascia)
Lies between iliacus and psoas tendons in the femoral triangle
Not a content of the femoral sheath
Divides into branches immediately (~4cm distal to the inguinal lig)
Branches
Iliacus is supplied by the nerve in the abdomen.
As it enters the femoral triangle, it gives off the branch to Pectineus, which passes behind
the femoral sheath to reach the muscle.
1
