Nerves of the female pelvis

Question 1

What does the obturator nerve supply?

Answer 1

Sensory medial aspect of the thigh + motor innervation to pectineus and adductor muscles

Question 2

Where does the obturator nerve arise from?

Answer 2

L2, L3, L4

Question 3

Where does the sacral plexus arise from?

Answer 3

S1, S2, S3

Question 4

Where does the pudendal nerve arise from?

Answer 4

S2 to S4

Question 5

What does the pudendal nerve supply?

Answer 5

Motor and sensory function of the perineum

Question 6

How does the pudendal nerve enter the perineum?

Answer 6

It exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen

Question 7

Where does the perineal nerve arise from?

Answer 7

The pudendal nerve

Question 8

Where do the lumbar splanchnic nerves arise from?

Answer 8

Lumbar ganglia of the sympathetic trunk at the level L1 and 2

Question 9

Where do the hypogastric nerves arise from?

Answer 9

The superior hypogastric plexus, which arise from the lumbar splanchnic nerves at L1 and L2

Question 10

What forms the inferior hypogastric plexus?

Answer 10

The sympathetic supply comes from right and left hypogastric nerves arising from the superior hypogastric plexus, the parasympathetic supply comes the pelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 11

Where does the middle rectal plexus arise form?

Answer 11

The inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 12

Where does the uterovaginal plexus arise from?

Answer 12

The inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 13

Which nerves supply the ovary and fallopian tubes?

Answer 13

The uterovaginal plexus

Question 14

Where does the vesical plexus arise from?

Answer 14

The inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 15

What are the branches of the inferior hypogastric plexus?

Answer 15

Uterovaginal, vesicle, middle rectal plexuses

Question 16

Where do the pelvic splanchnic nerves arise from?

Answer 16

parasympathetic fibres from ventral rami S2-4

Question 17

Where does the ilioinguinal nerve arise from?

Answer 17

L1 of the lumbar plexus

Question 18

What does the ilioinguinal nerve supply

Answer 18

Transverse abdominus and internal oblique muscles as well as sensory supply to upper medial thigh, base of penis and top of scrotum and mons pubis and labia majora

Question 19

Where does the iliohypogastric nerve arise from?

Answer 19

L1 of the lumbar plexus (first branch)

Question 20

What does the iliohypogastric nerve supply?

Answer 20

Sensation - lateral gluteal region

Motor - transversus abdominus and internal oblique

Question 21

Where does the genitofemoral nerve arise from?

Answer 21

L1 and 2 of the Lumbar plexus

Question 22

What does the genitofemoral nerve supply?

Answer 22

Genital branch =The cremaster muscle
Sensation of scrotum, mons pubis and labia majora

Femoral branch = anterior thigh sensation

Question 23

Where does the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve arise from and what does it supply?

Answer 23

L2 and L3 of lumbar plexus and supplies sensation to lateral thigh

Question 24

Where does the obturator nerve arise from?

Answer 24

L2, L3, L4 of the lumbar plexus

Question 25

Where does the femoral nerve arise from?

Answer 25

L2, L3, L4 of the lumbar plexus

Question 26

What are the branches of the lumbar plexus?

Answer 26

Ilioinguinal and ilihypogastric (L1)

Genitofemoral (L1&2), Lateral cutaneous of the thigh (L2&L3), obturator and femoral (L2,3,4)

Question 27

Which nerves supply the skin of the perineum?

Answer 27

Anococygeal and pudendal

Question 28

Which nerves supply labia majora sensation?

Answer 28

Pudendal (via perineal nerve) to posterior labial nerves
Ilioinguinal nerve supplies anterior labial nerves
Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve also supplies anterior labia

Question 29

What nerve injury can lithotomy cause?

Answer 29

common peroneal nerve - compression at fibula head

Question 30

What are the features of a common peroneal nerve injury?

Answer 30

Loss of anterior compartment extensor = foot drop

Loss of sensation to foot and antero-lateral leg

Question 31

How would the obturator nerve be injured in labour?

Answer 31

Compression of fetal head against boney pelvis

Question 32

What are the features of an obturator nerve injury?

Answer 32

Upper medial thigh sensation loss

Weakness of hip adductors

Question 33

What are the features of a femoral nerve injury?

Answer 33

Absent knee reflex
Loss of sensation to anterior thigh and knee
Weak knee flexion

Question 34

Which nerves control bladder neck closure and detrusor contraction?

Answer 34

Sympathetic (STORAGE) - L1 and L2

Question 35

Which nerves control detrusor relaxation and bladder neck opening?

Answer 35

Parasympathetic (PEEING) - S2, 3 and 4