What is the spinal level for the iliohypogastric nerve?

What is the spinal level for the iliohypogastric nerve?

• A. T12
• B. L2
• C. L1
• D. L1, L2

Answer: (C)

The iliohypogastric nerve comes from the ventral ramus of the first lumbar nerve. The primary spinal level is L1, which is why this is the correct answer. Some texts note a small contribution from T12 can join near its formation, but the main root remains L1. The T12 option would describe the subcostal nerve, while L2 supplies other lumbar plexus branches and is not the origin of this nerve. An L1,L2 combination would imply a dual root setup not typically used to define this nerve.

The iliohypogastric nerve comes from the ventral ramus of the first lumbar nerve. The primary spinal level is L1, which is why this is the correct answer. Some texts note a small contribution from T12 can join near its formation, but the main root remains L1. The T12 option would describe the subcostal nerve, while L2 supplies other lumbar plexus branches and is not the origin of this nerve. An L1,L2 combination would imply a dual root setup not typically used to define this nerve.