Lumbosacral Plexus Flashcards
What nerves are formed from the anterior division of the lumbar plexus (4)
Iliohypogastric nerve
Ilioinguinal nerve
Genitofemoral nerve
Obturator nerve
The lumbosacral plexus is composed of nerves from where
the anterior primary rami of spinal nerves L1 to S4
What happens to the anterior rami of the lumbo sacral plexus and which are the exception
anterior rami split into anterior and posterior divisions
the first lumbar and fourth sacral nerves
Which division are the first lumbar and 4th sacral nerves considered part of
anterior division
What do the anterior and posterior divisions innervate
Embryonic preaxial ((in front of the bone or anterior) musculature
postaxial (behind the bone or posterior) musculature
Do the neural associations of the lumbosacral plexus change with embryonic rotation of the lower limb
no
how do postganglionic sympathetic fibers
join the spinal nerves
via gray rami communicantes
then distribute with branches of the lumbosacral plexus
Which fibers are not contained in the lumbosacral branches to pelvic or lower limb structures
parasympathetic fibers
where are the anterior rami of the first three lumbar nerves and part of the fourth (ie. the lumbar plexus) located
within the psoas major muscle
What do branches of the lumbar rami provide before the rami enter the plexus
Quadratus Lumborum (L1-L4) Psoas Major (L1-L2)
What does quadratus lumborum do
extends and laterally flexes the vertebral
column
What does the lumbar plexus supply innervation to
the muscles and skin of the anteromedial thigh
the skin of the medial leg and foot
What does the iliohypogastric nerve pass across and then enter
passes inferolaterally across the quadratus lumborum muscle
and then pierces the transversus abdominis muscle
What is the nerve source of the iliohypogastric nerve and what does it innervate
L1
innervates abdominal musculature
supplies the skin of the suprapubic region and superior gluteal region
What path does the Ilioinguinal nerve follow?
same as iliohypogastric but inferior to it, then passes through inguinal canal and out superficial inguinal ring
What is the nerve source of the ilioinguial nerve and what does it innervate
L1
Supplies: abdominal musculature
Post superficial inguinal ring:
cutaneous branches supply superomedial thigh
and anterior part of scrotum (labia majus)
What path does the Genitofemoral nerve follow?
runs along top of Psoas major and divides into genital and femoral branches
Femoral more lateral
What is the nerve source of the genitofemoral nerve and what does it innervate
L1 L2
Genital:
supplies cremaster of spermatic cord and small cutaneus areas of scrotum
Femoral
Supplies skin over femoral triangle
What path does the obturator nerve follow?
emerges from medial border of soas major to pass though obturator canal and enter thigh
What happens when the obturator nerve emerges from the canal into the thigh
Divides into anterior and posterior branches
what seperates the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator nerve
Adductor brevis muscle
What does the anterior branch of Obturator supply (6)
Adductor longus
adductor brevis
Gracilis
Sometimes pectineus
sensory to hip joint and skin of medial thigh
What does the posterior branch of obturator supply
Obturator externus
adductor (horiz) portion of adductor magnus
provides an articular branch to knee joint
What nerves form the posterior division of the lumbar plexus
Lateral femoral cutaneous
Femoral
What is the path of the Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
passes infrolaterally across iliacus
toward ASIS
enters thigh inferior to inguinal ligament
What is the nerve source of the Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and what does it innervate
L2 L3
skin over lateral thigh and buttock
What is the largest nerve branch of the lumbar plexus
Femoral
What supplies the iliacus muscle
Femoral as it crosses by it