Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh

Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
	Plan of lumbar plexus. (Lateral femoral cutaneous visible at left.)
	Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.
Details
From	Lumbar plexus (L2–L3)
Innervates	Skin on the lateral part of the thigh
Identifiers
Latin	nervus cutaneus femoris lateralis
TA98	A14.2.07.011
TA2	6521
FMA	16485
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh (also called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) is a cutaneous nerve of the thigh. It originates from the dorsal divisions of the second and third lumbar nerves from the lumbar plexus. It passes under the inguinal ligament to reach the thigh. It supplies the skin on the lateral part of the thigh. Nerve compression can cause meralgia paraesthetica.

Structure[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a nerve of the lumbar plexus.^[1]^[2] It arises from the dorsal divisions of the second and third lumbar nerves (L2-L3).^[1]^[2] It emerges from the lateral border of the psoas major muscle at about its middle. It crosses the iliacus muscle obliquely, toward the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS).^[2] It then passes under the inguinal ligament.^[1] It passes through the muscular lacuna. It then passes over the sartorius muscle into the thigh, travelling from medial to lateral.^[2] It is usually between 1 and 2 mm thick.^[2]

Branches[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh usually divides into an anterior branch and a posterior branch.^{[citation needed]}

Anterior branch[]

The anterior branch becomes superficial about 10 cm below the inguinal ligament, and divides into branches which are distributed to the skin of the anterior and lateral parts of the thigh, as far as the knee. The terminal filaments of this 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 peripatellar plexus.

Posterior branch[]

The posterior branch pierces the fascia lata, and subdivides into filaments which pass backward across the lateral and posterior surfaces of the thigh, supplying the skin from the level of the greater trochanter to the middle of the thigh.

Variation[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh may have multiple branches.^[2] It may partially pass through sartorius muscle rather than over its surface.^[2] It may be absent, and the sensory supply replaced by branches of the femoral nerve and the ilioinguinal nerve.^[2]

Function[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a sensory nerve.^[1]^[2] It supplies the skin on the lateral (outer) part of the thigh.^[1]^[2]

Clinical significance[]

Ultrasound[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh can be studied using ultrasound.^[2] It is easier to see over the sartorius muscle than in other subcutaneous tissue, as there is greater contrast.^[2] It can sometimes be difficult to see due to surrounding soft tissue.^[2]

Nerve block[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh can be blocked with local anaesthetic.^[2] Ultrasound is used to guide needle insertion. This is used for procedures in the supplied area of skin, such as surgical incisions over the outer thigh, and skin grafts.^[2]

Meralgia paraesthetica[]

Entrapment of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is caused by compression of the nerve near the anterior superior iliac spine and the inguinal ligament.^[1] This causes meralgia paraesthetica (Bernhardt-Roth syndrome).^[1]^[3] This may be diagnosed with ultrasound, which changes the morphology of the nerve (such as general enlargement).^[2]

History[]

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh may also be known as the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.^[2]

Additional images[]

Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh and other structures passing behind the inguinal ligament
The great saphenous vein and its tributaries at the fossa ovalis.
The lumbar plexus and its branches.
Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus.
Diagram of segmental distribution of the lateral cutaneous nerve (shaded) and other nerves of the right leg. Front view.
Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.

References[]

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 953 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g David, W. S. (2014). "Meralgia Paresthetica". Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences - Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology (2nd ed.). Academic Press. pp. 1099–1100. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385157-4.00666-7. ISBN 978-0-12-385158-1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Gray, Andrew T. (2019). "39 - Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block". Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 143–149. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-50951-0.00039-6. ISBN 978-0-323-50951-0.
^ Waldman, Steven D. (2009). "177 - Meralgia Paresthetica". Pain Review. Saunders. p. 301. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-5893-9.00177-5. ISBN 978-1-4160-5893-9.

External links[]

Lateral_femoral_cutaneous_nerve at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program
Anatomy photo:40:17-0201 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Nerves of the Lumbar Plexus"
posteriorabdomen at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (posteriorabdmus&nerves)

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g David, W. S. (2014). "Meralgia Paresthetica". Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences - Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology (2nd ed.). Academic Press. pp. 1099–1100. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385157-4.00666-7. ISBN 978-0-12-385158-1.

[:1-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Gray, Andrew T. (2019). "39 - Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block". Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia (3rd ed.). Elsevier. pp. 143–149. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-50951-0.00039-6. ISBN 978-0-323-50951-0.

[3] Waldman, Steven D. (2009). "177 - Meralgia Paresthetica". Pain Review. Saunders. p. 301. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-5893-9.00177-5. ISBN 978-1-4160-5893-9.

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