Anterior Cutaneous Branches of Femoral Nerve
Rami cutanei anteriores nervi femoralis
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Femoral nerve (L2—L3).
Course: Descends on the medial and anterior aspect of the thigh.
Branches: None.
Supply: Sensory innervation to the skin on the anterior and medial surface of the thigh.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The anterior cutaneous branches arise from the superficial division of the femoral nerve.
Course
The anterior cutaneous branches arise as one medial and one intermediate branch. The medial branch crosses the femoral artery within the femoral triangle and descends in the thigh in the region of the sartorius muscle. It sends cutaneous ramifications to the upper medial thigh and extends towards to knee, where it unties with the saphenous nerve and its infrapatellar branch.
The intermediate branch descends on that anterior aspect of the thigh, piercing the fascia lata about 8 cm below the inguinal ligament to become cutaneous. It extends towards the knee to contribute to the peripatellar plexus. It also communicates with the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The anterior cutaneous branches supply the skin on the anterior and medial surface of the thigh. The saphenous nerve supplies the skin on the medial surface of the leg, ankle, and foot. Finally, sensory articular innervation is supplied to the hip and knee joints.
