Femoral nerve: inguinal ligament and iliac compartment
The femoral nerve descends between psoas and iliacus and enters the thigh beneath the inguinal ligament; both the iliac compartment and the inguinal region are described compression sites. This page brings them together with their anatomical plate and references. The prone knee bend (PKB) and the side-lying femoral slump are the neurodynamic tests that load it.
Passage beneath the inguinal ligament
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.
- 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
Iliac compartment
The nerve may also be compressed in the iliac compartment, for example when a lesion raises the pressure in that space. This proximal site is not equivalent to simple muscular rubbing. The evidence comes mainly from clinical descriptions and series of lesions.
- Frequency
- Proposed with limited evidence: case series, clinical commentaries or anatomical descriptions.
- Type of evidence
- Scoping review of clinical lesions
References
- Gibelli F, Ricci G, Sirignano A, Bailo P, De Leo D. Iatrogenic femoral nerve injuries: Analysis of medico-legal issues through a scoping review approach. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2021. PubMed 34815865 · DOI