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Lumbar Plexus Nerves
1 Subcostal nerve
2 Iliohypogastric nerve
3 Ilioinguinal nerve
4 Genitofemoral nerve
5 Genital branch of genitofemoral nerve
6 Femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve
7 Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
8 Femoral nerve
9 Obturator nerve
10 Lumbosacral trunk
Sacral Plexus Nerves
11 Superior gluteal nerve
12 Inferior gluteal nerve
13 Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
14 Nerve to the obturator internus muscle
15 Pudendal nerve
16 Perforating cutaneous nerve
17 Inferior cluneal nerve
18 Sciatic nerve
19 Upper bands of sacral plexus
Pelvic dissection exposing lumbar and sacral plexus
Anterior view
Abdominal dissection of lumbar plexus
Anteriorview
The lumbar plexus arises from the ventral rami of the fi rst four
lumbar spinal nerves. The plexus emerges laterally through the
intervertebral foramina to pass anterolateral between the two
Lumbar Plexus
heads of the psoas major muscle. The more superior branches of the plexus enter the abdominal body wall to
innervate the abdominal muscles. The lower nerves of the plexus course into the lower limb as the lateral
femoral cutaneous, femoral, and obturator nerves. The lumbar plexus is a transitory plexus that begins as a
series of body wall nerves and eventually transitions into limb innervation. The fi rst ventral ramus of the plexus
is basically a segmental nerve that follows the basic segmental nerve pattern in the ventral body wall. The
second lumbar ventral ramus forms segmental branches in the body wall and other branches that contribute to
limb innervation. The third and fourth ventral rami contribute solely to innervation of the lower limb anatomy.
Other Structures
20 Diaphragm
21 Psoas major muscle
22 Psoas minor muscle
23 Quadratus lumborum muscle
24 Iliacus muscle
25 Obturator externus muscle
26 Sartorius muscle
27 Tensor fasciae latae muscle
28 Gluteus maximus muscle
29 Gluteus medius muscle
30 Gluteus minimis muscle
31 Piriformis muscle
32 Superior gemellus muscle
33 Obturator internus muscle
34 Inferior gemellus muscle
35 Sacrotuberous ligament
36 Penis
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