530 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY. 



The Branches of the lumbar plexus are as follows : 

 The first nerve having received the branch from the last 

 dorsal, divides into the iliohypogastric and ilio-inguinal. 

 From the first and second is formed the genitocrural. 

 From the second and third, the external cutaneous. From 

 the second, third, and fourth, the anterior crural and obtu- 

 rator. From the third and fourth, the accessory obturator. 

 And from the fourth the branch passes to enter into the 

 lumbosacral cord. 



All these branches are formed within the substance of the 

 psoas magnus muscle. 



The Nerves. 



(1) The iliohypogastric branch. From the first lumbar. 

 Issues from the upper border of the psoas, crosses the 

 quadratus lumborum and iliacus obliquely to enter the 

 transversalis muscle over the middle of the crest of the 

 ilium. It divides into two branches ; the iliac, which 

 pierces the abdominal muscles and supplies the integument 

 over the outer and posterior surface of the crest as far as the 

 great trochanter, being posterior to the iliac branch of the 

 last dorsal nerve. 



The hypogastric branch, which passes through the in- 

 ternal oblique about one inch in front of the anterior supe- 

 rior iliac spine, extends downward and forward to appear 

 through the external oblique about two inches above the 

 spine of the pubes, supplying the integument in front of the 

 pubes and dorsum of the penis. 



(2) The ilio -inguinal. From the first lumbar. It 

 is found at the outer border of the psoas just below the 

 iliohypogastric, takes a course parallel with it but a 

 little lower, to follow close to the crest of the ilium and 

 Poupart's ligament, and appear through the external 



