Lumbar plexus
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Yu Y, Robertson S, et al. Lumbar plexus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 17 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38195
rID:
38195
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Revisions:
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9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Lumbal plexus
The lumbar plexus is a complex neural network formed by the lower thoracic and lumbar ventral nerve roots (T12 to L5) which supplies motor and sensory innervation to the lower limb and pelvic girdle.
On this page:
Summary
origin: ventral rami of T12 to L5
course: formed within the substance of the psoas major muscle, anterior to the lumbar transverse processes
-
major (terminal) branches
motor supply: lower limb and pelvic girdle
sensory supply: lower anterior abdominal wall, groin, upper thigh and pudenda
Gross anatomy
The branches that arise from the lumbar plexus are:
subcostal nerve: T12
genitofemoral nerve: L1, 2
femoral nerve: L2, 3, 4
obturator nerve: L2, 3, 4
-
lumbosacral trunk: L4, 5
this contributes to the sacral plexus
See: mnemonics for branches of the lumbar plexus and mnemonics for the roots.
Variant anatomy
Variation in the lumbar plexus appears to be common (~90% in one study) 1:
absent iliohypogastric nerve (~20%)
early branching (within psoas muscle) of the genitofemoral nerve (~20%)
accessory obturator nerve (~10%)
lateral femoral cutaneous nerve arising as a branch of the femoral nerve
References
- 1. Anloague PA, Huijbregts P. Anatomical variations of the lumbar plexus: a descriptive anatomy study with proposed clinical implications. J Man Manip Ther. 2010;17 (4): e107-14. Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Last RJ, McMinn RMH. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1994
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Sacral plexus
- Iliacus muscle
- Vastus intermedius muscle
- Subcostal nerve
- Lumbar plexus roots (mnemonic)
- Iliohypogastric nerve
- Lumbar enlargement
- Vastus lateralis muscle
- Genitofemoral nerve
- Lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy
- Iliopsoas muscle
- Lumbar plexus (mnemonic)
- Iliopsoas compartment
- Psoas major muscle
- Cervical enlargement
- Coccygeal plexus
- Sacroiliac joint
- Obturator nerve
- Ilioinguinal nerve
- Adductor longus muscle
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- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis[+][+]
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis[+][+]
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis[+][+]
- anterior abdominal wall
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- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera[+][+]
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
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- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
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adrenal gland
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urinary system
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kidney
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variants
- number
- fusion
- location
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- ureter
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- embryology
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kidney
- male reproductive system
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female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- adnexa
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- broad ligament (mnemonic)
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- arteries
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abdominal aorta
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- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
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- lumbar arteries
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common iliac artery
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internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
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internal pudendal artery
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perineal artery
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abdominal aorta
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- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
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sacral plexus[+][+]
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
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- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
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- autonomic ganglia and plexuses[+][+]
Related articles: Anatomy: Lower limb
- skeleton of the lower limb
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hip joint
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-
hip bursae
- anterior
- iliopsoas bursa (iliopectineal bursa)
- lateral
- subgluteal bursae
- greater trochanteric bursa (subgluteus maximus bursa)
- subgluteus medius bursa
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- gluteofemoral bursa
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- postero-inferior
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knee joint
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posterolateral ligamentous complex
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ankle joint
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hip joint
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- 3rd layer
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-
accessory muscles of the ankle
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- lymphatic system of the lower limb
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