Nerve
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Cutaneous nerve for the outer and front-outer thigh
High-yield
Compression of this nerve can cause meralgia paresthetica: burning, tingling or altered feeling in the outer thigh. Its course near the iliac spine varies, so there is no single exact path in every person.
Overview
The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve crosses the iliacus toward the anterior superior iliac spine. It usually enters the thigh beneath the inguinal ligament, then distributes skin branches over the outer thigh without supplying skeletal muscles.
Reference facts
- Origin
- Lumbar plexus, usually from posterior divisions of the L2 and L3 ventral rami
- Root value
- Usually L2–L3; variant root contributions are described
- Course
- Leaves the lateral psoas border, crosses iliacus toward the anterior superior iliac spine and usually passes beneath the nearby inguinal ligament; branching and ligament relationships vary
- Motor
- No skeletal-muscle motor supply
- Sensory
- Lateral and anterolateral thigh skin, with branches extending toward the knee and variable borders
Clinical correlation
Tight belts, pregnancy, weight gain, diabetes or local injury can contribute to meralgia paresthetica. Isolated damage does not cause muscle weakness, but preserved strength alone cannot rule out every nerve-root problem.
Frequently asked questions
What are the roots of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve?
Usually L2–L3; variant root contributions are described.
What muscles does the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supply?
No skeletal-muscle motor supply.
What is the sensory distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve?
Lateral and anterolateral thigh skin, with branches extending toward the knee and variable borders.
What is the course of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve?
Leaves the lateral psoas border, crosses iliacus toward the anterior superior iliac spine and usually passes beneath the nearby inguinal ligament; branching and ligament relationships vary.