Lumbar Plexus Overview

A nerve originating from spinal nerves L1-L4, with a contribution from the anterior ramus of T12. It's responsible for innervating the lower abdominal wall and parts of the thigh.

It arises from the T12 and L1 spinal nerves. It travels along the psoas muscle, crosses the quadratus lumborum, and pierces the transversus abdominis muscle.

A branch of the ilioinguinal nerve, responsible for supplying the skin of the superior pubic region.

A branch of the ilioinguinal nerve, responsible for providing sensory innervation to the posterolateral gluteal region.

This nerve provides motor innervation to the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles, as well as the conjoint tendon.

This condition can occur as a result of surgical procedures, sports injuries, or even pregnancy. Symptoms include burning pain in the suprapubic and inguinal areas.

The ilioinguinal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin over the pubis, genital region, and superior antero-medial thigh.

The ilioinguinal nerve innervates the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles.

The genitofemoral nerve divides into two branches: the femoral branch and the genital branch.

The femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve provides sensory innervation to the anterior, upper, and medial parts of the thigh.

The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve supplies sensory innervation to the anterior scrotal skin in males and the mons pubis and labia majora in females.

The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve innervates the cremaster muscle in males, which helps control the elevation of the testicles.

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve emerges from the lateral border of the psoas major muscle and supplies sensory innervation to the anterior and posterior lateral thigh to the knee, and the parietal peritoneum of the iliac fossa.

The femoral nerve provides both motor and sensory innervation to the thigh and leg.

The branches of the femoral nerve are the anterior cutaneous branch and the saphenous nerve.

The obturator nerve supplies motor innervation to the hip adductors.

These muscles include the obturator externus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus.

The obturator nerve enters the medial thigh via the obturator canal.

The sacral plexus is formed by ventral rami of the L4-L5 and S1-S4 spinal nerves.

The superior gluteal nerve is responsible for innervating the tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus muscles.

The inferior gluteal nerve innervates the gluteus maximus muscle, which is responsible for hip extension.

A nerve that arises from the tibial nerve and supplies sensory innervation to the medial aspect of the leg and foot, including the heel.

A branch of the tibial nerve that supplies the medial aspect of the foot, innervating the first three and a half toes, as well as the plantar surface of the foot.

A branch of the tibial nerve that supplies the lateral aspect of the foot, innervating the last one-and-a-half toes and the plantar surface of the foot.

Branches of the tibial nerve that supply the heel, providing sensory innervation to the skin of the heel.

A nerve that arises from its parent nerve and innervates the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg, responsible for plantarflexion of the ankle and flexion of the knee.

A nerve that arises from its parent nerve and innervates the soleus muscle responsible for plantarflexion of the ankle.

A nerve that arises from its parent nerve and innervates the gastrocnemius muscle responsible for plantarflexion of the ankle and flexion of the knee.

A nerve that arises from its parent nerve and innervates the popliteus muscle, involved in lateral rotation of the knee.

The perforating cutaneous nerve, a branch of the sacral plexus, supplies sensation to the inferior medial part of the buttock. It arises from the anterior rami of spinal nerves S2-S3 and exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen.

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, another branch of the sacral plexus, provides sensory innervation to the posterior surface of the thigh and leg. It originates from spinal nerves S1-S3 and exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, passing deep to the gluteus maximus muscle.

The nerve to the quadratus femoris, stemming from spinal nerves L4-S1, innervates the quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles, and contributes to hip joint innervation. It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and enters the gluteal region.

The nerve to the obturator internus, arising from spinal nerves L5-S2, innervates the obturator internus and superior gemellus muscles. It emerges through the greater sciatic foramen and then enters the lesser sciatic foramen.

The pudendal nerve, originating from the sacral plexus (spinal nerves S2-S4), governs motor function in the perineum, including the muscles controlling urination and defecation, as well as sensation in the penis/clitoris and perineal skin.

The sciatic nerve, formed from spinal nerves L4-S3, is the largest nerve in the body. It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, passing deep to the gluteus maximus and other muscles, and then runs down the posterior thigh into the popliteal fossa. It branches into the tibial and common fibular nerves.

The tibial nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve, innervates the posterior muscles of the leg (hip extensors and knee flexors), except the short head of the biceps femoris. It provides sensory innervation to the knee joint and branches into medial and lateral plantar nerves.

The common fibular nerve, another branch of the sciatic nerve, is responsible for innervating the muscles controlling foot dorsiflexion and eversion. It is a mixed nerve providing sensory innervation to the anterolateral leg and a sensory branch to the knee joint.