Obturator nerve Anatomy and clinical application

Video Description

The obturator nerve is a major peripheral nerve of the lower limb. In this article, we shall look at its anatomical course, motor and sensory functions, and its clinical significance.

Overview

Nerve roots: L2-L4

Motor: Innervates the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh.

Sensory: Cutaneous branch innervates the skin of the medial thigh.

Anatomical Course
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The obturator nerve is formed by the anterior divisions of the second, third and fourth lumbar nerves.

It descends through the fibres of the psoas major muscle and emerges from its medial border, running posteriorly to the common iliac arteries and laterally along the pelvic wall to the obturator foramen. It then enters the thigh through the obturator canal and splits into anterior and posterior divisions.

The anterior division descends between the adductor longus and adductor brevis muscles towards the femoral artery, giving off branches to the adductor longus, adductor brevis and gracilis muscles. In rare cases it also gives off a branch to the pectineus muscle. It then pierces the fascia lata to become the cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve.

The posterior division descends through the obturator externus muscle before passing anteriorly to adductor magnus and giving off branches to supply it.