The L2 dermatome slopes obliquely across the front and inner upper thigh, from the outer hip region toward the inner thigh. It lies between the L1 groin band and the L3 band near the knee. Several nerves of the lumbar plexus carry its fibres.
| Nerve root | L2 |
|---|---|
| Area | Anterior and medial upper thigh, running obliquely downward and inward |
| How to test | Light touch and pinprick are compared side to side at the ISNCSCI key sensory point: on the anteromedial thigh, midway between the midpoint of the inguinal ligament (T12) and the medial femoral condyle. |
| Nerve Supply | Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; Femoral nerve (anterior cutaneous branches); Genitofemoral nerve (femoral branch); Obturator nerve (cutaneous branch) |
Carries touch, pain and temperature sensation from this strip of skin to the spinal cord through the L2 dorsal root.
L2 radiculopathy is uncommon and can be confused with hip disease or meralgia paresthetica. Meralgia paresthetica affects the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and causes numbness on the outer thigh without weakness or reflex change. Dermatome maps differ between sources (Foerster, Keegan and Garrett, and modern evidence-based maps disagree), and neighbouring dermatomes overlap, so borders are approximate.
Compression of the L2 root, often by a far lateral or upper lumbar disc, causing anterior thigh pain and numbness with hip flexor weakness.
Compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve near the anterior superior iliac spine causes burning numbness of the outer thigh.
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