Anterior compartment of the thigh - subcutaneous tissue and superficial nerves (dave's notes)

Question 1

List the content of the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior compartment of the thigh

Answer 1

Cutaneous nerves
Lymphatic vessels and nodes
Great saphenous vein tributaries
Femoral artery cutaneous branches

Question 2

What are the cutaneous nerves of the anterior compartment of the thigh derived from?

Answer 2

The first three lumbar nerves. These supply skin and the fascia lata.

Question 3

List the cutaneous nerves of the anterior thigh (7)

Answer 3

Ilioinguinal
Genitofemoral
Medial femoral cutaneous nerve
Intermediate femoral cutaneous nerve
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Obturator nerve
Patellar plexus

Question 4

What does the ilioinguinal nerve arise from? What is its course and destination?

Answer 4

• A collateral branch of iliohypogastric (L1).
• Passes through the anterior abdominal wall in the neurovascular plane (supplying the lower parts of the conjoint tendon). Emerges on the front of the cord at the superficial inguinal ring.
• Supplies the root of the penis, the anterior 1/3rd of the scrotum, a small area of the thigh.

Question 5

What does the genitofemoral nerve arise from?

What is its course and destination?

Answer 5

• L1,2
• Gives off the femoral branch (L1) as it lies on psoas). Runs down the external iliac artery into the femoral sheath then pierces anteriorly
• to supply the skin over the femoral triangle.

Question 6

What does the medial femoral cutaneous nerve arise from?

What is its course and destination?

Answer 6

A branch of the anterior division of the femoral nerve, supplying the medial side of the thigh with terminal twigs to the patellar plexus.

Question 7

What does the intermediate femoral cutaneous nerve arise from?
What is its course and destination?

Answer 7

Common origin with the medial femoral cutaneous nerve (a branch of the anterior division of the femoral nerve).
Passes vertically downwards beneath the fascia lata to supply the front of the thigh down to the knee

Question 8

What does the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve arise from? What is its course and destination?

Answer 8

A branch of the lumbar plexus, passes beneath and then within the iliac fascia, and then beneath (through) the inguinal ligament (just medial to the axis). Divides into anterior and posterior branches which separately pierce the fascia lata over the lateral end of the inguinal ligament.
The anterior branch (L3) supplies the anteriolateral surface of the thigh.
The posterior branch (L2) supplies the posterolateral aspect of the thigh.

Question 9

What does the obturator nerve arise from?

What is its course and destination?

Answer 9

Sends cutaneous branches to supply the medial part of the thigh

Question 10

What is the patellar plexus?

Answer 10

A find network of communicating twigs formed from twigs of many of the above nerves