Which nerve is primarily responsible for motor innervation of the quadriceps and sensory innervation of the anterior thigh and medial leg?

Which nerve is primarily responsible for motor innervation of the quadriceps and sensory innervation of the anterior thigh and medial leg?

• A. Femoral nerve
• B. Obturator nerve
• C. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
• D. Genitofemoral nerve

Answer: (A)

The nerve in question is the femoral nerve. It carries motor fibers to the quadriceps group, which are responsible for knee extension, and it provides sensory innervation to the anterior thigh via its cutaneous branches and to the medial leg via the saphenous nerve. The femoral nerve arises from roots L2–L4, travels through the psoas major, and enters the thigh under the inguinal ligament, giving off muscular branches to the quadriceps and a saphenous branch that supplies the medial leg. Other nerves don’t cover both targets: the obturator nerve mainly supplies thigh adductors with medial thigh sensation; the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies skin on the lateral thigh; the genitofemoral nerve gives cremasteric function and some anterior thigh sensation but not the quadriceps motor innervation.

The nerve in question is the femoral nerve. It carries motor fibers to the quadriceps group, which are responsible for knee extension, and it provides sensory innervation to the anterior thigh via its cutaneous branches and to the medial leg via the saphenous nerve. The femoral nerve arises from roots L2–L4, travels through the psoas major, and enters the thigh under the inguinal ligament, giving off muscular branches to the quadriceps and a saphenous branch that supplies the medial leg. Other nerves don’t cover both targets: the obturator nerve mainly supplies thigh adductors with medial thigh sensation; the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies skin on the lateral thigh; the genitofemoral nerve gives cremasteric function and some anterior thigh sensation but not the quadriceps motor innervation.