Morphology of Lumbar Plexus and Its Clinical Significance

Address for Correspondence: Dr. Deepti Arora, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India, contact no.08059931294, E-Mail: [email protected] Background and Objectives: Looking to the applied significance of lumbar plexus in the form of its involvement in various injuries and entrapment, it is imperative to have a thorough knowledge about its formation, branching pattern and variations. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 30 formalin embalmed cadavers in the department of anatomy, Government Medical College, Patiala. The muscles of the posterior abdominal wall were exposed. The fibers of psoas major muscle were dissected from the transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae and the nerves of lumbar plexus were exposed. Results: The variable origin of iliohypogastric nerve was found in 8.33% cases. It was not found in 8 specimens. Ilioinguinal nerve was not seen in 14.97% cases. Variations in morphological origin of genitofemoral nerve were seen in 13.36% cases and in case of femoral nerve , variations were in 43.32% cases. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was seen arising from femoral nerve in 8.33% cases and was not found in 16.67% cases. Psoas minor muscle was found unilaterally in 1 cadaver on the right side and bilaterally in 2 cadavers. Conclusion: Knowledge of the anatomy of the lumbar plexus is essential for the surgeon who wishes to perform a surgical intervention to this plexus.