Femoral Nerve Flashcards Preview

ESA 2- Musculoskeletal System > Femoral Nerve > Flashcards

Flashcards in Femoral Nerve Deck (26)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What are the nerve roots of the femoral nerve?

A

L2-L4

2
Q

What are the motor functions of the femoral nerve?

A

Innervates the anterior thigh muscles that flex the hip joint (pectineus, iliacus, sartorius) and extend the knee (quadriceps femoris- rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius)

3
Q

What are the sensory functions of the femoral nerve?

A

Cutaneous branches to the anteromedial thigh (anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve) and terminal cutaneous branch supplies the medial side of the leg and foot (saphenous nerve)

4
Q

What is the anatomical course of the femoral nerve?

A

Descends from lumbar plexus in the abdomen through the psoas major muscle
Travels through pelvis to ~mid point of inguinal ligament
Traverses behind the inguinal ligament into the thigh and splits into anterior and posterior division
Passes through femoral triangle lateral to femoral vessels

5
Q

What happens when the femoral nerve passes through the femoral triangle?

A

It gives off articular branches to the hip and knee joints

6
Q

What is the terminal cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve?

A

The saphenous nerve

7
Q

What does the saphenous nerve do after formation?

A

Continues, with the femoral artery and vein, through the adductor canal

8
Q

What is essential if arterial or venous sampling is required from the femoral artery or vein?

A

To be away in which order the structures lie

9
Q

In what order to the femoral structures lie?

A

Lateral- femoral nerve → femoral artery → femoral vein - medial

10
Q

What kind of muscles does the femoral nerve supply?

A

Hip flexors

Knee extensors

11
Q

What hip flexors does the femoral nerve supply?

A

Pectineus
Iliacus
Sartorius

12
Q

What does the pectineus do?

A

Adducts and flexes the thigh

Assists with medial rotation of the thigh

13
Q

What does the iliacus do?

A

Acts with the psoas major and psoas minor (forming iliopsoas) to flex the thigh at the hip joint, and stabilise the hip joint

14
Q

What does the sartorius do?

A

Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint
Flexes the leg at the knee joint

15
Q

What knee extensors does the femoral nerve supply?

A

Quadriceps femoris (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius)

16
Q

What does the quadriceps femoris do?

A

Extends the leg at the knee joint

Rectus femoris also steadies hip joint and assists iliopsoas in flexing the thigh

17
Q

What are the first cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve?

A

The anterior cutaneous branches

18
Q

Where do the anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve arise?

A

In the femoral triangle

19
Q

What do the anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve do?

A

Supply the skin on the anteromedial thigh

20
Q

What is the last cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve?

A

The saphenous nerve

21
Q

What does the saphenous nerve do?

A

Supply the skin on the medial side of the leg and foot

22
Q

When is the saphenous vein often stripped?

A

In individuals with problematic varicose veins

23
Q

What is the saphenous nerve accompanied by in its course?

A

The long saphenous vein

24
Q

What can damage during the stripping of the saphenous nerve procedure lead to?

A

Pain
Paraesthesia
Complete loss of sensation to the medial side of the lower leg

25
Q

Who may femoral nerve block be indicated in?

A

Patients requiring lower limb surgery who cannot tolerate a general anaesthetic

26
Q

What can a femoral nerve block be used as?

A

As a peri and post operative analgesia for patients with a fractured neck of the femur who cannot tolerate particular analgesics