Anatomical Variations in Formation and Branching Pattern of the Femoral Nerve in Iliac Fossa: A Study in 64 Human Lumbar Plexuses

Femoral nerve is used for nerve block in several surgeries and is vulnerable to compression in tight ilio-psoascompartment. The knowledge of origin and variations of femoral nerve in iliac fossa is important for anatomists, anesthetistsand surgeons to prevent iatrogenic femoral nerve palsy.We dissected 32 human cadavers to study the anatomy of the femoral nerve. We dissected the lumbar plexusbilaterally; dissected the psoas major muscle to see formation of the femoral nerve. We measured the length of the femoralnerve from its formation to inguinal ligament; and recorded variations of the femoral nerve with digital photography.The average length of the femoral nerve was 144 mm. Anatomical variations of the femoral nerve were found in25% lumbar plexuses. These variations included abnormally long L2 root, early division of the femoral nerve, origin oflateral cutaneous nerve of thigh from the femoral nerve, origin of nerve to pectineus from the femoral nerve in iliac fossa,splitting of the femoral nerve into two slips by psoas major or accessory slips of iliacus muscle.The aim of this study was to highlight variations in branching pattern of the femoral nerve in iliac fossa forappropriate exposure of the femoral nerve.