Acta Anatomica Sinica

AAS ›› 2013, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3 ): 364-367.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0529-1356.2013.03.015

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Anatomy of the femoral fascia sheath and its adjacent structures

XU Zhao-yang1  REN Yan-hong1  TU Li-li1  XU  Sheng-chun 1*  LIANG Liang2  ZHANG Ming 2,3   

  1. 1. Department of Human Anatomy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China;2. Department of Anatomy, Capital Clinical Uinversity, Beijing 100069，China; 3. Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
  • Received:2012-07-09 Revised:2012-09-14 Online:2013-06-06 Published:2013-07-16

Abstract:

Objective  To determine if a femoral nerve “sheath” exists and provide anatomic basis for the lower limb nerve
block. Methods Ten sides of lumbar and thigh regions from 5 formalin-fixed cadavers were used in this study. Eight out of 10
specimens were injected with latex using a step-by-step injection method from the distal to the proximal and dissected for
topographic anatomy examination. The other two sides from the same body were deep frozen at -35℃ for a week, cut with a bandsaw
and used for sectional anatomy examination. Results An intact femoral nerve “fascial sheath” was not observed in the specimens
examined in this study. The nerve was surrounded by various fascia-like structures. From the proximal to the distal, those
fascia-like structures were the fascia of lumbar plexus, fascial septum of the psoas, the iliac fascia and loose connective
tissue covering the femoral nerve. Conclusion At the gross anatomy level, an intact femoral nerve “fascial sheath” may not exist.

Key words: Femoral nerve, Fascia, “3-in-1”block, Iliac fascia block, Anatomy, Human

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