Femoral nerve under the inguinal ligament
The femoral nerve descends between psoas and iliacus and enters the thigh beneath the inguinal ligament, lateral to the femoral artery. This region is a described compression site. This page shows its relations in 3D and the PKB and femoral Slump tests.
Anatomy of the passage
The femoral nerve descends between psoas and iliacus and enters the thigh beneath the inguinal ligament. The inguinal region is a described site of compression. It must be differentiated from the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, whose neuropathy produces meralgia paraesthetica.
- Nerve
- Femoral nerve: inguinal ligament and iliac compartment
- Frequency
- Described site, less commonly seen.
- Type of evidence
- Anatomical and clinical review
References
- Martin R, Martin HD, Kivlan BR. NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN THE HIP REGION: CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW. Int J Sports Phys Ther 2017. PubMed 29234567 · DOI
- Kumar S, Mangi MD, Zadow S, Lim W. Nerve entrapment syndromes of the lower limb: a pictorial review. Insights Imaging 2023. PubMed 37782348 · DOI
Ultrasound landmarks
Beneath the inguinal ligament, the femoral nerve runs on iliopsoas, lateral to the femoral artery and vein, separated from them by the iliopectineal arch.
Tests that load this nerve
Other sites of the same nerve
All entrapment sites
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