Saphenous nerve

Anatomy

Course
A branch of the femoral nerve, arising after the femoral nerve passes under the inguinal ligament. It courses distally just behind the sartorius muscle. It does not travel through the adductor canal, but pierces through its aponeurotic covering to arise on the medial side of the knee, between the attachments of the sartorius and gracilis muscles. It then continues on the medial side of the leg until it reaches the foot.

Supply

The saphenous nerve is a sensory nerve, which provides sensory innervation to the posteromedial aspect of the leg and the medial aspect of the foot.

Clinical

The saphenous nerve can become compressed where it passes through the aponeurotic roof of the adductor canal, as the connective tissue is often stretched and compressed by the muscles surrounding it. This results in a deep thigh pain, or tingling, numbness and paraesthesia in the region of distribution of the nerve.

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