Femoral Nerve

Description

Illustration of the femoral nerve and femoral triangle and the sensory distribution

Diagram of typical anatomical relationship of femoral nerve and iliacus muscle. Variant path is mapped in red

Motor branches of the femoral nerve.

Introduction

• One of the two major nerves of the lower limb
• Sciatic Nerve is the other major nerve
• Nerve roots: L2-L4
• Motor innervation of hip flexors and knee extensors
• Sensory innervation of anteromedial thigh, medial leg

Motor Innervations

• Hip Flexors of the anterior thigh
  • Pectineus
  • Iliacus
  • Sartorius
• Muscles that extend the knee (quadriceps femoris)
  • Rectus femoris
  • Vastus lateralis
  • Vastus medialis
  • Vastus intermedius

Sensory Functions

• Anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve
  • Sensory of the anteromedial thigh
• Saphenous Nerve
  • Sensory of the medial side of the leg

Anatomic Course

• Largest branch of the lumbar plexus
  • Derived from anterior nerve roots of L2, L3, L4
• Travels inferiorly through the psoas major
  • Supplies branches to iliac, pectineus before entering the thigh
• Then passes underneath the inguinal ligament
  • Enters the femoral triangle
  • About 4 cm below the inguinal ligament, divides into anterior and posterior divisions

Anterior division of the femoral nerve

• Anterior cutaneous branches
• Branch to sartorius
• Branch to pectineus

Posterior division of the femoral nerve

• Saphenous nerve
• Branches to quadriceps femoris

Saphenous Nerve

• Terminal cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve
• Travels through the adductor canal
• Exits via the adductor hiatus
• Responsible for innervating medial aspect of leg and foot

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Clinical Significance

Procedural

• Femoral Nerve Block
• Fascia Iliaca Block

Pathology

• Femoral Neuropathy

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See Also

• Hip Pain Main
• Physical Exam Hip
• Neuropathies Main
• Hip Anatomy Main

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