Anatomy
Course
Made up of the anterior rami of the spinal nerves L1 to L3, and some of L4 and T12, the subcostal nerve. The lumbar plexus is a part of the lumbosacral plexus. The nerves here all join together in different branching patterns to form a number of terminal branches, such as the iliohypogastric nerve (made up of L1 fibres), the genitofemoral nerve (made up of fibres from the anterior rami of L1 and L2) and the femoral nerve (made up of fibres from the anterior rami of L2, L3 and L4).
Supply
The terminal branches from the lumbosacral plexus, which the lumbar plexus is a part of, provide sensory and motor innervation to the lower half of the body.
Clinical
Damage to the lumbosacral plexus can have effects of varying severity. It will result in a motor or sensory deficit in the lower half of the body with possible pain, tingling or burning. In the most severe cases, damage can result in paralysis of the lower half of the body.
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