Nervus femoralis

Nervus Femoralis or the Femoral Nerve is a major nerve in the human body that supplies the anterior compartment of the thigh. It is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus, originating from the dorsal divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves (L2, L3, and L4).

Anatomy

The Nervus Femoralis descends through the fibers of the psoas major muscle, emerging from the muscle at the lower part of the thigh. It then passes beneath the inguinal ligament into the thigh, where it splits into an anterior and posterior division.

Anterior Division

The anterior division of the Nervus Femoralis gives off cutaneous and muscular branches. The cutaneous branches include the medial cutaneous nerve and the intermediate cutaneous nerve. The muscular branches supply the sartorius muscle and the pectineus muscle.

Posterior Division

The posterior division of the Nervus Femoralis gives off the saphenous nerve, the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It also supplies the quadriceps femoris muscle, a large muscle group that includes the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the Nervus Femoralis can result in femoral nerve dysfunction. This can lead to weakness or paralysis of the leg, impaired sensation in the leg, and impaired control of the hip and knee. Causes of femoral nerve dysfunction can include direct trauma, compression or entrapment, and diseases that damage nerves such as diabetes.

See Also

• Nervous system
• Peripheral nerve
• Lumbar plexus
• Femoral nerve block