Lumbar nerve plexus

LUMBAR NERVE PLEXUS ANATOMY

Just off to the side of the first four lumbar vertebrates, one can find the lumbar plexus. Spinal nerves Lumbar 1 through Lumbar 4 donate their anterior rami to the creation of the lumbar plexus. A few fibers from the twelfth thoracic rami are also thrown in. The structures of the lower abdomen are innervated by the lumbar plexus.

LUMBAR NERVE PLEXUS STRUCTURE

The anterior and medial segments of the lower extremity are also innervated. The lumbar plexus is a much simpler web than the brachial plexus, as it is created only by roots and division and is devoid of things such as trunks and the like.

The posterior section of the lumbar plexus exits outward, just obliquely, to pass quite the depth into the psoas muscle. The anterior division lies more along the surface of the quadtratus lumborum muscle. The posterior division also yields the femoral nerve. This nerve innervates the anterior and lateral thigh muscle, drawing down to innervate the medial leg, and ending finally at the foot.

LUMBAR NERVE PLEXUS DIAGRAM

LUMBAR NERVE PLEXUS FUNCTIONS

The femoral nerve also serves to innervate the anterior thigh muscle with motor coordination. These muscles include the quadriceps femoris group, the iliopsoas, and the sartorius muscles. The anterior division of the lumbar plexus yields the obturator nerve. This nerve innervates the coetaneous areas of the medial thigh as well as the abductor thigh muscles.