194 HANDBOOK OF ANATOMY 



Ilio-Inguinal nerve in origin and course resembles the ilio- 

 hypogastric nerve, but pierces the abdominal wall lower down,, 

 and becomes cutaneous by passing through the external abdom- 

 inal ring and spermatic fascia. 



Branches. Muscular to the abdominal wall. 



Cutaneous to skin over the symphysis pubis, the upper and 

 inner part of Scarpa's triangle, and the upper part of the 

 external genital organs. 



Genito-Crural nerve arises from the first and second lumbar 

 nerves, which unite in the substance of psoas. The nerve 

 passes down on the outer side of the external iliac vessels and 

 becomes cutaneous just above Poupart's ligament, and supplies 

 the skin over Scarpa's triangle, external to the ilio-inguinal 

 nerve. A small branch passes upwards to the external genital 

 organs. 



External Cutaneous nerve arises from the second and third 

 lumbar nerves. The nerve crosses the iliacus muscle to the 

 anterior superior spine of the ilium. It then pierces the origin 

 of sartorius, and becomes cutaneous a few inches below this 

 point, where it divides into anterior and posterior terminal 

 branches. 



Branches. Anterior supplies the skin on the outer side of the 

 front of the thigh almost to the knee. 



Posterior supplies the skin on the outer side of the buttock 

 below the great trochanter and the skin of the upper two-thirds 

 of the outer side of the thigh. 



Obturator nerve arises from the second, third, and fourth 

 lumbar nerves. The nerve emerges from the inner border of 

 psoas behind the common iliac vessels. It passes forwards with 

 the obturator artery, and goes through the groove in the thyroid 

 foramen, where it divides into two branches superficial and 

 deep. This nerve supplies the muscles and skin on the inner 

 side of the thigh. 



The Superficial part of the obturator nerve enters the thigh 

 beneath pectineus, and, passing down the inner border of 

 adductor longus, anterior to gracilis, it finally divides into two 

 terminal branches, one of which enters Hunter's canal. 



Branches. Articular to the hip-joint. 



