Obturator nerve
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Aaron Wong had no recorded disclosures.
View Aaron Wong's current disclosuresAt 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- Nervus obturatorius
The obturator nerve is a large nerve arising from the lumbar plexus and the nerve of the medial compartment of the thigh. It arises from the anterior divisions of L2-4 in the lumbar plexus.
Gross anatomy
Course
Pelvis
The nerve descends medial to psoas major to the obturator canal where it divides into anterior and posterior divisions. The anterior division exits from the obturator canal to enter the medial compartment of the thigh. The posterior division exits through obturator externus.
Medial compartment of thigh
The adductor brevis muscle separates the divisions of the obturator nerve:
Anterior division
Branches of the anterior division include:
- articular branch to hip joint
- adductor brevis
- adductor longus
- gracilis
- cutaneous branch: supplies skin along mid-portion of medial thigh
Posterior division
Branches of the posterior division supply:
- obturator externus
- adductor magnus (pubic part)
- articular branch to knee joint: pierces oblique popliteal ligament
Subsartorial canal
Branch of the anterior division contributes to the subsartorial nerve plexus (near the insertion of adductor longus).
Related pathology
Injury to the obturator nerve weakens hip adduction and contributes to instability. Irritation of the nerve may result in pain in the medial thigh/knee.
Pathology can include direct trauma (i.e. childbirth) or pelvic pathology (i.e. tumour).
Nerve entrapment can occur within the obturator canal or as the nerve pierces the obturator externus muscle.
References
- 1. McMINN. Lasts Anatomy Regional and Applied. CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE. (2003) ISBN:B0084AQDG8. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Eizenberg, Ahern G. General anatomy. McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN:0070134677. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
- Lumbar plexus roots (mnemonic)
- Obturator nerve neuropathy
- Medial compartment of the thigh
- Obturator foramen
- Obturator externus muscle
- Psoas major muscle
- Adductor minimus muscle
- Common iliac vein
- Obturator hernia
- Knee menisci
- Popliteal fossa
- Obturator vein
- Adductor longus muscle
- Lumbar plexus
- Iliacus muscle
- Gracilis muscle
- Ductus deferens
- Obturator fascia
- Adductor brevis muscle
- Lumbar plexus (mnemonic)
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hip joint
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hip bursae
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