title: Anatomy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve relevant to clinical findings in meralgia paresthetica.
abstract: Compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), known as meralgia paresthetica (MP), is common. We investigated the topographic anatomy of the LFCN focusing on the inguinal ligament and adjacent structures.
  
  
  
  Distances from various bony and soft-tissue landmarks to the LFCN were investigated in 33 formalin-embalmed cadavers.
  
  
  
  The mean distance from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the LFCN was 8.8 mm. In approximately 90% of cases, the LFCN lay <2 cm from the medial tip of the ASIS, whereas, in 76% of cases, it was <1 cm away. The mean angle between the inguinal ligament and LFCN was 83.3°.
  
  
  
  We determined the variability of the location of the LFCN at the boundary between the pelvic and femoral portions. The reported results will be helpful for diagnosis and treatment of MP. Muscle Nerve 55: 646-650, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shin-Hyo
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wu-Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D020428:Femoral Neuropathy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D013848:Thigh / Q000294:innervation
keywords: anatomy; inguinal ligament; lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; meralgia paresthetica; nerve compression; nerve entrapment