ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



Ilio-hypogastric, cutaneous to hypogastrium, and over the ilium (dorsum). 

 Inguinal, to internal oblique and transversus muscles. 

 Genito-femoral, to round ligament of uterus, cremaster muscles of spermatic 

 cord. 



Obturator, to the external obturator and the four adductors. 

 Femoral, to the quadriceps muscle (rectus and three vasti). 



The femoral nerve (anterior crural} is the largest branch of the 

 lumbar plexus. It passes under the inguinal ligament, from the 

 abdomen, into the thigh (on the lateral side of the femoral artery), 

 and breaks up at once into branches cutaneous and muscular, for 

 the four large divisions of the quadriceps extensor muscle and the 

 integument which covers them. 



The long saphenous branch of the femoral nerve is the longest 

 nerve in the body, running nearly the whole length of the extrem- 

 ity; it supplies integument only, on the medial side of the leg and 

 foot. 



The lumbo-sacral cord passes into the pelvis to unite with 

 sacral nerves and to form the sacral plexus. 



SACRAL NERVES 



Posterior divisions. These send branches to muscles and skin 

 of the back of the pelvis. 



Anterior divisions. The upper three, and greater part of the 

 fourth, join the sacral plexus. 



The sacral plexus.- The branches of this plexus supply the 

 muscles within and around the pelvis, the posterior part of the 

 thigh, and the entire leg and sole of the foot. 



Branches: (All leave the pelvis through the great sciatic foramen.) 



Gluteal, two (superior and inferior} to glutei muscles. 



Pudic, to the levator ani, rectum (sphincter ani), perineum, and external 

 genital organs. (Reenters the pelvis through small sciatic foramen.) 



Small sciatic, to posterior thigh and external genital organs. This is a 

 cutaneous nerve. 



Great sciatic, to posterior thigh, and entire leg and foot (except medial 

 border) muscles and skin. 



The great sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It 

 leaves the pelvis by way of the great sciatic notch and runs down- 

 ward between posterior thigh muscles to the popliteal space, 

 where it divides into tibial and common peroneal nerves (Fig. 188). 



