The obturator nerve is a mixed nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus and innervates the muscles and skin in the medial region of the thigh.

This nerve arises from the ventral rami of the second, third and fourth lumbar nerves (L2 - L4). It emerges from the medial side of the psoas major, then it crosses the linea terminalis and passes by the lateral wall of the lesser pelvis. The nerve then enters the obturator canal and divides into two terminal branches: the anterior and the posterior branch.

The anterior branch is larger than the posterior one, it runs between the adductor brevis and adductor longus muscles, then penetrates the fascia lata at the middle third of the medial surface of the thigh and continues as the cutaneous branch. The anterior branch innervates the adductor brevis, adductor longus, pectineus and gracilis, and the skin at the medial part of the thigh as far as the knee joint.

The posterior branch of the obturator nerve runs posterior to the adductor brevis. It innervates the adductor magnus and obturator externus muscles, as well as the hip joint.

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Obturator nerve