The Femoral Nerve

Question 1

Name the muscles in the anterior thigh that the femoral nerve innervates

Answer 1

Pectinius, Iliacus, Sartorius

Question 2

What is the motor function of Pectineus?

Answer 2

Adducts and flexes the thigh

Assists with medial rotation of the thigh§

Question 3

What is the motor function of Iliacus?

Answer 3

Acts with psoas major and psoas minor (forming iliopsoas) to flex the thigh at the hip joint and stabilise the hip joint.

Question 4

What is the motor function of Sartorius?

Answer 4

Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint. Flexes the leg at the knee joint

Question 5

Name the muscles which extend the knee innervated by the femoral nerve.

Answer 5

Quadriceps femoris which is made up of Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius

Question 6

What are the motor functions of the muscles which make up quadriceps femoris?

Answer 6

They extend the leg at the knee joint. Rectus femoris also steadies the hip joint and assists iliopsoas in flexing the thigh.

Question 7

Which nerve roots is the femoral nerve derived from?

Answer 7

L2-L4

Question 8

Describe the anatomical route of the femoral nerve

Answer 8

• Descends from the lumbar plexus into the abdomen through Psoas major.
• Then travels through the pelvis to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament.
• Transverses behind the inguinal ligament into the thigh and splits into the anterior and posterior division.
• Passes through the femoral triangle, lateral to the femoral vessels (enclosed within the femoral sheath) and gives off articular branches to the hip and knee joints.
• Once the femoral nerve has passed through the femoral triangle it becomes saphenous nerve which continues, with the femoral artery and vein, through the adductor canal.

Question 9

What area of the lower limb does the femoral nerve supply? (Sensation)

Answer 9

The skin on the anteromedial thigh and the medial side of the leg and foot.