Quick Facts
Origin: One of two terminal divisions of the genitofemoral nerve.
Course: Descends on the anterior surface of psoas major muscle and passes through the deep inguinal ring to enter the inguinal canal.
Branches: None.
Supply: Motor innervation to the cremaster muscle (males). Sensory innervation from the skin in the upper anterior part of the scrotum, spermatic fascia, and tunica vaginalis of testis (males), or the skin of the mons pubis and labium majus (females).
Origin
The genital branch originates as one of two terminal divisions of the genitofemoral nerve. The other branch is named the femoral nerve.
Course
The genital branch lies on the anterior surface of the psoas major muscle. It descends and passes through the deep inguinal ring to enter the inguinal canal. In males, the nerve becomes superficial and terminates on the skin in the upper anterior part of the scrotum. In females it accompanies the round ligament of the uterus and terminates on the skin of the mons pubis and labium majus.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve provides motor innervation to the cremaster muscle and sensory innervation to the upper anterior part of the scrotum, spermatic fascia, and tunica vaginalis of testis (males), or the skin of the mons pubis and labium majus (females).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Cremaster reflex
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Genitofemoral Nerve
The genitofemoral nerve is formed from the first and second ventral rami of the lumbar nerve within the substances of the psoas major.
