Nerves of the lower limb

Anterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh

The anterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a branch of the femoral nerve that innervates the cutaenous aspect of the anterior compartment of the thigh.

Common fibular nerve

The common fibular nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. Above the knee on the posterior aspect of the thigh it projects laterally to cross around the head of the fibula and enter the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg. Here the nerve splits into two branches, the deep and superificial components.

Deep fibular nerve

The deep fibular nerve is a branch of the common fibular nerve in the anterior compartment of the leg. It runs medial to the superficial branch and runs anterior to the tibia. It supplies all of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg. It passes the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and splits into a medial and lateral branch. The lateral branch supplies the brevis extensor muscles whilst the medial branch has cutaneous innervation of the webbing between the first and second toes.

Femoral nerve

The femoral nerve is a direct branch from the lumbar plexus. It arises from ventral branches from L2, L3 and L4. It supplies the muscles of the anterior compartment of the thigh. Including sartorious and the four quadriceps. It also supplies the medial cutaneous aspect of the thigh and leg via the saphenous branch.

Inferior gluteal nerve

The inferior gluteal nerve is a direct nerve branch of the sacral plexus, it arises from a dorsal root of the plexus at l5, s1 and s2 nerve roots and innervates the gluteus maximus muscle only. It lies inferior to the superior gluteal nerve.

Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh

The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a branch of the lumbar plexus. It originates from the L2 and L3 nerves and innervates the cutaneous aspect of the lateral part of the thigh.

Lateral plantar nerve

The lateral plantar nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve on the plantar aspect of the foot. It has cutaneous and muscular branches. It supplies the muscles and skin on the lateral aspect of the plantar aspect of the foot.

Lateral sural nerve

The lateral sural nerve is a branch of the common fibular nerve. It is a cutaneous branch of the upper lateral aspect of the leg.

Lumbar plexus

The lumbar plexus is a collection of nerves from the lumbar region as they leave the axial skelton. It is part of the lumbosacral plexus and forms from the first four lumbar nerves (L1-L4)They form a web like structure that interlinks with eachother. It gives many branches but most significantly the femoral, obturator and lateral cutaneous nerves.

Medial plantar nerve

The medial plantar nerve is a branch of the tibial nerve on the plantar aspect of the foot. It has cutaneous and muscular branches that supply the muscles and skin on the medial aspect of the plantar foot.

Nerve to quadratus femoris.

The nerve to quadratus femoris is a nerve arising from the sacral plexus. It supplies the quadratus femoris and gemellus inferior muscles

Nerve to obturator internus

The nerve to the obturator internus arises from the sacral plexus and innervates both the obturator internus and gemellus superior muscles in the gluteal region.

Obturator nerve

The obturator nerve is a direct nerve branch from the ventral aspect of the lumbar plexus. It comes from divisions of L2, L3 and L4. It extends through the true pelvis and then out through the obturator foramen. It has cutaneous and muscular branches. Innervating the muscles and skin of the medial compartment of the thigh.

Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a nerve that originates from the sacral plexus. It arises from the S2 and S3. roots. It supplies the cutaenous aspects of the gluteal region and the posterior compartment of the thigh and popliteal fossa.

Sacral plexus

The sacral plexus is a collection of nerves that form a web as they leave the axial skeleton. It forms from the last lumbar nerve (L5) and the sacral nerves (s1-s4). The most significant branches of the sacral plexus are the sciatic nerve, superior and inferior gluteal nerves and the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.

Sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve is a direct nerve branch of the sacral plexus. It is derived from the nerves L4-S3.It exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen. It is the main supplier of the posterior compartment of the thigh, including the biceps femoris, semi tendinosis and semi membranosis, specifically these are actually supplied by the tibial nerve in the sciatic nerve.

Superficial fibular nerve

The superficial fibular nerve is a branch of the common fibular nerve in the anterior and lateral compartment of the leg. It runs down the lateral aspect of the leg. It supplies the muscles of the lateral compartment of the leg. As it descend it again splits into two dorsal components. It cutaneously supplies the lower lateral component of the leg and also the majority of the dorsum of the foot, excluding the webbing of the first and seocond toes.

Superior gluteal nerve

The superior gluteal nerve is a branch of the sacral plexus. It arises from a dorsal division of the L4, L5, S1 nerves. It supplies the deep gluteal muscles, including the gluteus minimus, gluteus medius and the tensor fascia latae muscle.

Sural nerve

The sural nerve is a branch of both the tibial and common fibular nerves. It is a cutaneous branch of the posterior lateral aspect of the leg and ankle.

Tibial nerve

The tibial nerve is a peripheral nerve arising from the sciatic nerve of the posterior compartment of the thigh. As the sciatic nerve enters the popliteal fossa proximal to the knee, it splits into the tibial and common fibular nerves. The tibial nerve runs down the posterior compartment of the leg and supplies the muscles of this compartment. As it reaches the ankle it terminates into lateral and medial plantar nerves which supply the intrinsic muscles of the foot.

Saphenous nerve

This is a cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve (L3, L4) as it passes the inguinal ligament. It extends down the medial aspect of the thigh, leg and foot. It is a sensory nerve that only innervates the skin.