Lower Limb 2

Nerves

Lumbar plexus. Lumbosacral trunk. Sacral plexus.

Femoral nerve

Innervate all muscles in anterior compartment of thigh. Give rise to branches that innervate iliacus and pectineus. Innervate skin over anterior aspect of thigh, anteromedial side of knee, medial side of leg, and medial side of foot.

Obturator nerve

Innervate all muscles in medial compartment of thigh, except part of adductor magnus and pectineus. Innervate obturator externus. Innervate skin on medial side of upper thigh.

Sciatic nerve

Terminal branches: Common fibular (peroneal) nerve. Tibial nerve.

Sciatic nerve innervates: All muscles in posterior compartment of thigh. Part of adductor magnus. All muscles in leg and foot. Skin on lateral side of leg and lateral side and sole of foot.

Gluteal nerves

Superior gluteal nerve: Innervate gluteus medius and minimus. Innervate tensor fasciae latae.

Inferior gluteal nerve:

Ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerves

Ilioinguinal nerve:

Genitofemoral nerve:

Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh

Nerve to quadratus femoris and nerve to obturator internus

Nerve to obturator internus: Supply gemellus superior and obturator internus. Nerve to quadratus femoris: Supply gemellus inferior and quadratus femoris.

Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh

Innervate skin over posterior aspect of thigh into upper leg. Innervate skin over gluteal fold, over upper medial part of thigh, and adjacent regions of perineum.

Perforating cutaneous nerve

ArteriesFemoral artery

Superior and inferior gluteal arteries and the obturator artery

Superior and inferior gluteal arteries:

Obturator artery:

Veins

Femoral vein.

Superficial veins: Great saphenous vein. Small saphenous vein.

Lymphatics

Superficial inguinal nodes

External iliac nodes.

Deep inguinal nodes

Popliteal nodes

Varicose veins

Deep vein thrombosis

Deep fascia and the saphenous openingFascia lata

Iliotibial tract


Superior and anterior aspect: tensor fasciae latae. Posterior aspect: gluteus maximus.

Saphenous opening

Femoral triangle


Base: inguinal ligament. Medial border: medial margin of adductor longus. Lateral border: medial margin of sartorius. Floor: Medially: pectineus and adductor longus. Laterally: iliopsoas. Apex: points inferiorly.

Adductor canal.

From lateral to medial: Femoral nerve. Femoral artery. Femoral vein. Lymphatic vessels.

Femoral sheath

Femoral canal.