Lumbar plexus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nerve: Lumbar plexus

Plan of lumbar plexus.

The lumbar plexus and its branches.
Latin	plexus lumbalis
Gray's	subject #212 949
From	L1-L4
MeSH	Lumbosacral+Plexus
Dorlands/Elsevier	p_24/12648073

The lumbar plexus is formed by the loops of communication between the anterior divisions of the first three and the greater part of the fourth lumbar nerves; the first lumbar often receives a branch from the last thoracic nerve.

It is situated in the posterior part of the Psoas major, in front of the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebræ.

The mode in which the plexus is arranged varies in different subjects.

It differs from the brachial plexus in not forming an intricate interlacement, but the several nerves of distribution arise from one or more of the spinal nerves, in the following manner: the first lumbar nerve, frequently supplemented by a twig from the last thoracic, splits into an upper and lower branch; the upper and larger branch divides into the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves; the lower and smaller branch unites with a branch of the second lumbar to form the genitofemoral nerve.

The remainder of the second nerve, and the third and fourth nerves, divide into ventral and dorsal divisions.

The ventral division of the second unites with the ventral divisions of the third and fourth nerves to form the obturator nerve.

The dorsal divisions of the second and third nerves divide into two branches, a smaller branch from each uniting to form the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and a larger branch from each joining with the dorsal division of the fourth nerve to form the femoral nerve.

The accessory obturator, when it exists, is formed by the union of two small branches given off from the third and fourth nerves.

1 Branches
2 Mnemonic
3 Additional images
4 External links

[edit] Branches

The branches of the lumbar plexus may therefore be arranged as follows:

Division	Name	Source
Main	Iliohypogastric nerve	1 L.
Main	Ilioinguinal nerve	1 L.
Main	Genitofemoral nerve	1, 2 L.
Dorsal	Lateral femoral cutaneous	2, 3 L.
Ventral	Obturator nerve (and Accessory obturator nerve, when present)	2, 3, 4 L.
Dorsal	Femoral nerve	2, 3, 4 L.

[edit] Mnemonic

One mnemonic used to remember this is "Interested in getting laid (or lunch) on Friday?"

[edit] Additional images

The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses.

[edit] External links

Duke Orthopedics lumbar_plexus

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.