Quick Facts
Origin: Femoral nerve.
Course: Branches to iliacus arises proximal to the inguinal ligament, while those to pectineus arise distal to the inguinal ligament. Branches to muscles in the anterior compartment of the thigh arise from the superficial and deep divisions of the femoral nerve.
Branches: None.
Supply: Motor innervation to iliacus, pectineus, sartorius, and quadriceps muscles.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The femoral nerve, a branch of the lumbar plexus, emerges from the lower lateral border of the psoas major muscle. It descends over the anterior surface of the iliacus muscle and underneath the inguinal ligament to enter the anterior compartment of the thigh. Along its course, it gives off branches to several muscles including iliacus, pectineus, and the muscles in the anterior thigh.
Course
The femoral nerve sends a motor branch to iliacus (L2-L3) before passing underneath the inguinal ligament. Upon entering the anterior compartment of the thigh, it gives a motor branch to pectineus muscle (L2-L3). The femoral nerve then separates into superficial and deep divisions by the lateral circumflex femoral artery. The superficial division provides motor innervation to the sartorius muscle (L2-L3), while the deep division gives off motor branches to the quadriceps muscles, including the rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles (L3-L4).
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The muscular branches of the femoral nerve provide motor innervation to iliacus, pectineus, sartorius, and quadriceps muscles (vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris).
List of Clinical Correlates
—Femoral nerve compression along the iliopsoas gutter
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Femoral Nerve
The femoral nerve is a branch of the lumbar plexus formed from the anterior rami of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerve roots [3].
