Femoral nerve

What is the origin and root value of femoral nerve?

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Origin : Femoral nerve is the largest branch of lumbar plexus.

 Root value: Dorsal division of ventral rami of L2, L3, L4 spinal nerves.

Describe the course of femoral nerve?

Course

• The trunk of femoral nerve lies in the iliac fossa between the iliacus and psoas major muscles.
• It then enters the thigh behind the inguinal ligament just lateral to femoral sheath.
• About 2-3cm. below the inguinal ligament the nerve divides into two divisions- anterior and posterior (lateral circumflex femoral artery passes between the two divisions).

Enumerate the branches of femoral nerve.

From the trunk: Branches to Iliacus and pectineus muscle.

Branches in thigh

•  From Anterior division
  • Two cutaneous branches – intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves of thigh (they supply the  skin of front and medial side of thigh).
  • One muscular branch to Sartorius muscle.
• From posterior division
  • One cutaneous branch- saphenous nerve (supplies skin on the medial side of leg and medial border of foot till the ball of the big toe).
  • Muscular branches- to all heads of quadriceps femoris ( rectus remoris, vastusmedialis, vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis)
  • Articular branches
    • Nerve to rectus femoris gives a branch to hip joint.
    • Nerve to vasti give branches to knee joint.

Applied Aspects