Nerves on the thigh | Thigh

Nerves on the thigh

The nerval innervation of the thigh is carried out via the various nerves from the pelvic nerve plexus (Plexus lumbosacralis). From the lumbar plexus emerges the genitofemoral nerve, which sensitively innervates the scrotum and a small part on the inner side of the thigh. The femoral nerve also originates from the lumbar plexus.

It innervates several muscles of the thigh, including the quadriceps femoris muscle. The obturator nerve innervates the adductor group of the thigh and sensitively supplies the middle third of the medial thigh. Among other things, the nervus cutaneus femoris posterior emerges from the plexus sacralis.

This is a purely sensitive nerve that innervates the skin of the back of the thigh. The sciatic nerve is the strongest peripheral nerve in humans. It is divided into two main branches, the sciatic nerve innervates the biceps femoris muscle and then divides into its two main branches in the hollow of the knee. The tibial nerve supplies the tibialis muscle with motor power, then runs centrally to the hollow of the knee and supplies various muscles of the lower leg.

  • Tibial nerve and the
  • Fibular nerve communis.
  • Musculus biceps femoris, the
  • Musculus semitendinosus and the
  • Musculus semimembranosus.

Pain in the thigh

Thigh pain can be divided anatomically into different groups. These can be muscle pain, nerve-related pain, pain due to an inadequate blood supply through the vessels or pain originating in the femur. Muscle-related pain in the thigh is predestined to occur after certain physical activities.

A typical injury in soccer is a pulled muscle in the adductor region due to the dynamic lateral movements. In general, muscularly induced pain can occur as a result of tension, overstrain, trauma. Muscular complaints in the thigh area can also be caused by malpositions (congenital or acquired) (e.g. hip joint dysplasia).

Tendon ruptures (e.g. patellar tendon as attachment of the musculus quadriceps femoris) are also possible. Nerve compression (e.g. of the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region) can lead to sensitive disorders and pain in the thigh area in addition to sensitive and motor deficits. Pain can also occur if the thigh is undersupplied with blood for too long.

This can occur, for example, in the context of a peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK) or in the case of a complete stenosis of the abdominal aorta in the dividing area of the two iliac arteries.Very often, however, pain in the thigh area originates from the bone and cartilage apparatus. The neck of the femur is particularly susceptible to fractures. However, fractures also frequently occur supracondylar and in the area of the femoral shaft.

As a result of increasing life expectancy, degenerative processes in bone and cartilage, especially in stressed areas of the body, are coming to the fore. The osteoporotic bone changes in addition to degenerative cartilage changes in the joints receive the main attention here. These degenerative processes can lead to fractures, malpositions or even joint arthrosis. Pain in the thigh can also be triggered by inflammation (e.g. of the muscles or muscle tendons) or tumors.