Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve

nervus cutaneus femoris lateralis

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is a purely sensory nerve supplying the outer thigh skin, with no motor component. Its passage under the inguinal ligament just medial to the ASIS makes it susceptible to compression in tight clothing, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged hip flexion, producing meralgia paraesthetica, the burning lateral thigh numbness and tingling that is one of the most recognisable peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes.

Region: Thigh

Anatomical Data

Origin, Insertion & Supply

Origin	Lumbar plexus (L2, L3)

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Meralgia paraesthetica produces burning, numbness, and hypersensitivity over the lateral thigh that is worsened by standing and walking and relieved by sitting or hip flexion. There is no weakness because the nerve is purely sensory. Tingling is reproduced by pressure on the nerve just medial to the ASIS at the inguinal ligament. Weight loss, avoiding tight belts and waistbands, and positional modification resolve most cases. Persistent cases are managed with local anaesthetic injection at the entrapment site or rarely surgical decompression.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Meralgia Paraesthetica

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve compression producing burning lateral thigh numbness without weakness, aggravated by standing and tight waistbands, managed with weight loss, loose clothing, and nerve block injection.