Saphenous nerve
Encyclopedia
The saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve
.
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 Adductor magnus.
Here it quits the artery, and emerges from behind the lower edge of the aponeurotic covering of the canal; it descends vertically along the medial side of the knee
behind the sartorius, pierces the fascia lata
, between the tendons of the Sartorius and Gracilis
, and becomes subcutaneous.
The nerve then passes along the tibial side of the leg, accompanied by the great saphenous vein
, descends behind the medial border of the tibia
, and, at the lower third of the leg, divides into two branches:
.
At the medial side of the knee it gives off a large infrapatellar branch, which pierces the sartorius
and fascia lata
, and is distributed to the skin in front of the patella.
Below the knee, the branches of the saphenous nerve (medial crural cutaneous branches
) are distributed to the skin of the front and medial side of the leg, communicating with the cutaneous branches of the femoral, or with filaments from the obturator nerve
.
can result in damage to the saphenous nerve, resulting in loss of cutaneous sensation in the medial leg. This is due to the intimate path that the saphenous nerve and the great saphenous vein travel.
Femoral nerve
The femoral nerve, the largest branch of the lumbar plexus, arises from the dorsal divisions of the ventral rami of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves...
.
Path
It approaches 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....
where this vessel passes beneath 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:...
, and lies in front of the artery, behind the aponeurotic covering of the adductor canal
Adductor canal
The adductor canal is an aponeurotic tunnel in the middle third of the thigh, extending from the apex of the femoral triangle to the opening in the Adductor magnus, the Adductor hiatus.-Boundary:...
, as far as the opening in the lower part of the Adductor magnus.
Here it quits the artery, and emerges from behind the lower edge of the aponeurotic covering of the canal; it descends vertically along the medial side of the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
behind the sartorius, 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...
, between the tendons of the Sartorius and Gracilis
Gracilis muscle
The gracilis is the most superficial muscle on the medial side of the thigh. It is thin and flattened, broad above, narrow and tapering below.-Origin and insertion:...
, and becomes subcutaneous.
The nerve then passes along the tibial side of the leg, accompanied by the great saphenous vein
Great saphenous vein
The great saphenous vein , also long saphenous vein, is the large superficial vein of the leg and thigh.The terms "safaina" and "el safin" have both been claimed as the origin for the word "saphenous."-Path:The GSV originates from where the dorsal vein of the first digit...
, descends behind the medial border of the tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
, and, at the lower third of the leg, divides into two branches:
- one continues its course along the margin of the tibiaTibiaThe tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
, and ends at the ankleAnkleThe ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
. - the other passes in front of the ankle, and is distributed to the skin on the medial side of the footFootThe foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
, as far as the ball of the great toe, communicating with the medial branch of the superficial peroneal nerve.
Branches
The saphenous nerve, about the middle of the thigh, gives off a branch which joins the subsartorial plexusSubsartorial plexus
The subsartorial plexus is a plexus of nerves that is located under the sartorius muscle. It is formed by:# the medial cutaneous nerve of the thigh # the saphenous nerve...
.
At the medial side of the knee it gives off a large infrapatellar branch, which pierces 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:...
and 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...
, and is distributed to the skin in front of the patella.
Below the knee, the branches of the saphenous nerve (medial crural cutaneous branches
Medial crural cutaneous branches of saphenous nerve
The medial crural cutaneous branches of saphenous nerve provide cutaneous innervation to the medial leg....
) are distributed to the skin of the front and medial side of the leg, communicating with the cutaneous branches of the femoral, or with filaments 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:...
.
Clinical Significance
Procedures such as saphenous vein cutdownVenous cutdown
Venous cutdown is an emergency procedure in which the vein is exposed surgically and then a cannula is inserted into the vein under direct vision. It is used to get vascular access in trauma and hypovolemic shock patients when peripheral cannulation is difficult or impossible. The saphenous vein is...
can result in damage to the saphenous nerve, resulting in loss of cutaneous sensation in the medial leg. This is due to the intimate path that the saphenous nerve and the great saphenous vein travel.