Anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve
Encyclopedia
The anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve consist of the following nerves: intermediate cutaneous nerve and medial cutaneous nerve.
) about 7.5 cm. below the inguinal ligament
, and divides into two branches which descend in immediate proximity along the forepart of the thigh
, to supply the skin as low as the front of the knee.
Here they communicate with the medial cutaneous nerve and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous, to form the patellar plexus
.
In the upper part of the thigh the lateral branch of the intermediate cutaneous communicates with the lumboinguinal branch of the genitofemoral nerve
.
, and divides in front, or at the medial side of that vessel, into two branches, an anterior and a posterior.
The anterior branch runs downward on the sartorius
, perforates the fascia lata at the lower third of the thigh, and divides into two branches: one supplies the integument as low down as the medial side of the knee; the other crosses to the lateral side of the patella, communicating in its course with the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve
.
The posterior branch descends along the medial border of the sartorius to the knee, where it pierces the fascia lata
, communicates with the saphenous nerve, and gives off several cutaneous branches.
It then passes down to supply the integument of the medial side of the leg.
Beneath the fascia lata, at the lower border of the Adductor longus, it joins to form a plexiform net-work (subsartorial plexus) with branches of the saphenous and obturator nerves.
When the communicating branch from the obturator nerve
is large and continued to the integument of the leg, the posterior branch of the medial cutaneous is small, and terminates in the plexus, occasionally giving off a few cutaneous filaments.
The medial cutaneous nerve, before dividing, gives off a few filaments, which pierce the fascia lata, to supply the integument of the medial side of the thigh, accompanying the long saphenous vein.
One of these filaments passes through the saphenous opening; a second becomes subcutaneous about the middle of the thigh; a third pierces the fascia at its lower third.
Intermediate cutaneous nerve of thigh
The intermediate cutaneous nerve (middle cutaneous nerve) pierces the fascia lata (and generally the sartoriusSartorius muscle
The Sartorius muscle – the longest muscle in the human body – is a long thin muscle that runs down the length of the thigh. Its upper portion forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle.-Origin and insertion:...
) about 7.5 cm. below the inguinal ligament
Inguinal ligament
The inguinal ligament is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. Its anatomy is very important for operating on hernia patients.-Anatomy:...
, and divides into two branches which descend in immediate proximity along the forepart of the thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
, to supply the skin as low as the front of the knee.
Here they communicate with the medial cutaneous nerve and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous, to form the patellar plexus
Patellar plexus
The terminal filaments of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve frequently communicate with the anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve, and with the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, forming with them the patellar plexus ....
.
In the upper part of the thigh the lateral branch of the intermediate cutaneous communicates with the lumboinguinal branch of the genitofemoral nerve
Genitofemoral nerve
In human anatomy, the genitofemoral nerve originates from the upper part of the lumbar plexus of spinal nerves. Its roots are L1 and L2 .The genitofemoral nerve is responsible for both the efferent and afferent limbs of the cremasteric reflex...
.
Medial cutaneous nerve of thigh
The medial cutaneous nerve (internal cutaneous nerve) passes obliquely across the upper part of the sheath of the femoral arteryFemoral artery
The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
, and divides in front, or at the medial side of that vessel, into two branches, an anterior and a posterior.
The anterior branch runs downward on the sartorius
Sartorius muscle
The Sartorius muscle – the longest muscle in the human body – is a long thin muscle that runs down the length of the thigh. Its upper portion forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle.-Origin and insertion:...
, perforates the fascia lata at the lower third of the thigh, and divides into two branches: one supplies the integument as low down as the medial side of the knee; the other crosses to the lateral side of the patella, communicating in its course with the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve
Saphenous nerve
The saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve.-Path:It approaches the femoral artery where this vessel passes beneath the sartorius, and lies in front of the artery, behind the aponeurotic covering of the adductor canal, as far as the opening in the lower part of the...
.
The posterior branch descends along the medial border of the sartorius to the knee, where it pierces the fascia lata
Fascia lata
-Thickness:It is an investment for the whole of the thigh, but varies in thickness in different parts.Thus, it is thicker in the upper and lateral part of the thigh, where it receives a fibrous expansion from the Glutæus maximus, and where the Tensor fasciæ latæ is inserted between its layers; it...
, communicates with the saphenous nerve, and gives off several cutaneous branches.
It then passes down to supply the integument of the medial side of the leg.
Beneath the fascia lata, at the lower border of the Adductor longus, it joins to form a plexiform net-work (subsartorial plexus) with branches of the saphenous and obturator nerves.
When the communicating branch from the obturator nerve
Obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.-Path:...
is large and continued to the integument of the leg, the posterior branch of the medial cutaneous is small, and terminates in the plexus, occasionally giving off a few cutaneous filaments.
The medial cutaneous nerve, before dividing, gives off a few filaments, which pierce the fascia lata, to supply the integument of the medial side of the thigh, accompanying the long saphenous vein.
One of these filaments passes through the saphenous opening; a second becomes subcutaneous about the middle of the thigh; a third pierces the fascia at its lower third.