Lower limb anatomy
The information below contains selected facts which commonly appear in examinations:
| Nerve | Motor | Sensory | Typical mechanism of injury & notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Femoral nerve | Knee extension, thigh flexion | Anterior and medial aspect of the thigh and lower leg | Hip and pelvic fractures Stab/gunshot wounds |
| Obturator nerve | Thigh adduction | Medial thigh | Anterior hip dislocation |
| Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh | None | Lateral and posterior surfaces of the thigh | Compression of the nerve near the ASIS → meralgia paraesthetica, a condition characterised by pain, tingling and numbness in the distribution of the lateral cutaneous nerve |
| Tibial nerve | Foot plantarflexion and inversion | Sole of foot | Not commonly injured as deep and well protected. Popliteral lacerations, posterior knee dislocation |
| Common peroneal nerve | Foot dorsiflexion and eversion Extensor hallucis longus | Dorsum of the foot and the lower lateral part of the leg | Injury often occurs at the neck of the fibula Tightly applied lower limb plaster cast Injury causes foot drop |
| Superior gluteal nerve | Hip abduction | None | Misplaced intramuscular injection Hip surgery Pelvic fracture Posterior hip dislocation Injury results in a positive Trendelenburg sign |
| Inferior gluteal nerve | Hip extension and lateral rotation | None | Generally injured in association with the sciatic nerve Injury results in difficulty rising from seated position. Can't jump, can't climb stairs |