Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is a peripheral nerve of the lumbar plexus and contains fibers from the spinal cord segments L2-L3[^1].

Course

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve runs over the iliacus muscle to beneath the anterior superior iliac spine and subsequently passes under the inguinal ligament through the lateral section of the muscular lacuna to the lateral surface of the thigh and penetrates the fascia lata to the skin[^1].

Function

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is purely sensory and supplies the skin on the lateral surface of the thigh up to the knee level[^1].

Clinical Relevance

The meralgia paraesthetica is a peripheral nerve compression syndrome in which there is compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve[^2].