The iliohypogastric nerve - also iliopubic nerve - is a mixed nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus and innervates the skin in the inguinal, pubical and gluteal regions, and the abdominal muscles.

This nerve originates from the ventral rami of the twelfth thoracic (T12) and first lumbar (L1) nerves.

It emerges from the lateral side of the psoas major muscle, descends obliquely and above the iliac crest. Then the nerve penetrates the transversus abdominis muscle, runs between it and the internal abdominal oblique muscle, and further between the internal abdominal oblique and external abdominal oblique muscle.

On its course, the iliohypogastric nerve gives off two cutaneous branches, namely, the anterior and lateral cutaneous branches to innervate skin, and several motor branches to the abdominal muscles.

The anterior cutaneous branch pierces the aponeurosis of the abdominal external oblique muscle and innervates the skin in inguinal and pubical regions.
The lateral cutaneous branch of the iliohypogastric nerve innervates the skin below the iliac crest and in the gluteal region.
The motor branches of the iliohypogastric nerve innervate the transversus abdominis muscle, the external and internal oblique muscles.

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Iliohypogastric nerve