70 DISSECTION OF THE CAT 



lumbar, and first sacral nerves. Its branches are 

 distributed to the regions of the pelvis and hind- 

 leg. The principal nerves arising from the lumbar 

 plexus are : 



1. The Ilio-hypogastric Nerve, which supplies the 

 skin of the abdomen. 



2. The Ilio-inguinal Nerve, which supplies the 

 skin of the inguinal region and external genera- 

 tive organs. 



3. The Genito-crural Nerve, which passes beneath 

 Poupart's ligament and supplies the skin of the 

 thigh and the spermatic cord. 



4. The External Cutaneous Nerve, which also passes 

 beneath Poupart's ligament and supplies the skin 

 of the hip and thigh. 



5. The Anterior Crural Nerve, which passes down 

 the front of the thigh and supplies the skin and 

 muscles of the thigh and leg. 



6. The Obturator Nerve, which passes along the 

 side of the pelvis and through the obturator fora- 

 men. 



7. The Great Sciatic Nerve, the largest nerve of 

 the body, which passes through the sacral sciatic 

 notch, between the tuberosity of the ischium and 

 the great trochanter of the femur, and then down 

 the hind-leg to innervate the thigh, leg, and foot. 



8. The Lesser Sciatic Nerve, which supplies the 

 muscles of the back of the hip and thigh. 



9. The Caudal Nerve, which runs down the side 

 of the tail and supplies its muscles. 



