Systematic Anatomy

Anatomy Department of WHU

 Ⅳ. Lumbar Plexus
A part of the anterior branch of T12
(Ⅰ) Formation Anterior branches of L1-L3
A part of the anterior branch of L4
(Ⅱ) Position:
Behind the
psoas
major & in
front of the
transverse
processes
of the
lumbar
vertebrae.
 T12

L1

L2

L3

L4

L5

Lumbosacral trunk
(Ⅲ) Branches of Lumbar Plexus
Iliohypogastric nerve
Cutaneous branch:
psoas major
Skin of the hypogastric region & quadratus lumborum
medial part of the inguinal region.
Muscular branch:
Muscles of the lower part of the
abdominal wall.
transversus illohypogastric n.
abdominis(deep)

Obliquus
internus
abdominis

aponeurosis of the obliquus

externus abdominis

superficial inguinal ring

2. Ilioinguinal nerve
Cutaneous branch:
Skin of the inguinal region, scrotum
psoas major
/greater lip of pudendum. quadratus lumborum

Muscular branch:
Muscles of lower part of the
abdominal wall.
ilioinguinal n.
transversus
abdominis
(deep)
Obliquus
internus
abdominis
aponeurosis of the obliquus spermatic cord
externus abdominis
scrotum
superficial inguinal ring
3. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: skin of
the anterior & lateral aspect of the thigh.

LFCN

anterior superior iliac spine

4. Femoral nerve
Quadriceps femoris
M. B. Sartorius
Pectineus
Skin of anterior
C. B. & medial side of
inguinal ligament
the thigh.
Saphenous nerve iliacus
femoral triangle

Skin of the medial side

of the leg & foot.
Saphenous nerve

C. → cutaneous
B. → branch
M. → muscular
5. Obturator nerve
 Muscular branch:
medial group
muscles of the thigh
& the obturator
externus.
 Cutaneous branch:
skin of the medial
side of the thigh.

Obturator nerve
6. Genitofemoral nerve
Skin of the scrotum
Cutaneous branch
Skin of the greater lip of pudendum
Muscular branch→Cremaster

Genitofemoral n.
Ⅴ. Sacral plexus Part of anterior branch of L4
Anterior branch of L5
Lumbosacral trunk
(Ⅰ) Formation Anterior branches of the sacral n. (S1-S5)
Anterior branch of the coccygeal n. (Co)
(Ⅱ) Position:
In the lesser pelvis, before the piriformis & the sacrum, behind the iliac
vessels. L
4
L
5
S
1
S2
S3
S4
S5 piriformis
Co
L Lumbosacral trunk
L
4

S5
S
1

S2

S3
S
4 Coccygeal n.
5
Lumbosacral trunk
 greater sciatic foramen
(Ⅱ) Branches of Sacral Plexus Suprapiriform
/infrapiriform
inferior gluteal n.
1. Sciatic nerve
Biceps femoris
piriformis
Distribution Semimembranosus
Semitendinosus gluteus
maximus

Tibial nerve
Branches
Common peroneal nerve
biceps
femoris

semimembranosus,
semitendinosus
popliteal fossa
There is tenderness on this line
in the sciatica(Sciatic
Neuralgia ).
Variation of Sciatic Nerve
 medial
malleolus
1) Tibial nerve
Muscular branch:
to posterior compartment
of the leg.

Cutaneous branch:

medial sural cutaneous nerve

Terminal branches
Medial plantar nerve medial and lateral plantar
Lateral plantar nerve
Medial/
lateral
sural
cutaneo
us n.
 2) Common peroneal nerve
Distribution:
Muscles of the anterior & lateral compartment of the leg.
Skin over lateral surface of the leg & dorsum of the foot.

Deep peroneal nerve:

 Anterior group of the muscles of the
Lateral head of leg.
Gastrocnemius  A small area of the skin between the 1st
anterior tibial & 2nd toes.peroneal nerve:
Superficial
artery
 Peroneal muscles.
 Skin on the distal part of the anterolateral
surface of the leg, the dorsum of the foot
& toes.
 Anterior group of
the muscles of the
leg.
A small area of the
skin between the 1st
& 2nd toes.
Peroneal muscles.

Skin on the distal

part of the
anterolateral
surface of the leg,
the dorsum of the
foot & toes.
(2) Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (posterior cutaneous
nerve of thigh)
Distribution: skin of the lower part of the gluteal region &
posterior part of the thigh.
(3) Superior gluteal nerve
Distribution: gluteus
medius, gluteus minimus
& the tensor fasciae latae.
(4) Inferior gluteal nerve
Distribution: gluteus
maximus & the skin
over the lower part of
the gluteal region
(5) Pudendal nerve
Distribution: Muscles & skin of the perineum & the external
genital organs.
Anal nerve (inferior rectal nerve)
Branches Perineal nerve
Dorsal nerve of penis (clitoris)

Ischiorectal fossa
1) Anal nerve (inferior rectal nerve):
sphincter ani externus & skin of the
anus.
2) Perineal nerve: muscles of the
perineum & the skin of the scrotum or
the greate lip of
pudendum.
1) Dorsal nerve of
penis ( clitoris):
skin of the penis (
clitoris) & the
cavernous body.
 Highlights

1. The formation, position & distribution of major

branches (femoral n., obturator n.) of lumbar
plexus.
2. The formation, position & distribution of major
branches (pudendal n., sciatic n., tibial n. &
common peroneal n.) of sacral plexus.
Assignments

P460 Fig. Ⅵ-5-5

P466 Fig. Ⅵ-5-11
P470 Fig. Ⅵ-5-15

P473 Fig. Ⅵ-5-17