NERVUS OBTURATORIUS Meaning and
Definition
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The nervus obturatorius, also known as the obturator nerve, is a major peripheral nerve in the human body that arises from the lumbar and sacral region of the spinal cord. It descends through the pelvis and innervates certain muscles of the lower limb, notably the adductors of the thigh.
The nervus obturatorius consists of nerve fibers derived from the anterior rami of the spinal nerves L2, L3, and L4. It emerges from the pelvis through the obturator canal, a passageway formed by the obturator membrane and the surrounding bones. It then divides into anterior and posterior branches that supply different muscles and areas in the lower limb.
The main role of the nervus obturatorius is to provide motor innervation to the adductor muscles of the thigh, including the adductor longus, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus. It also supplies sensory fibers to the skin overlying this region. Additionally, the nerve contributes to the innervation of other structures such as the hip joint, some pelvic muscles, and the skin on the inner thigh.
Damage or compression of the nervus obturatorius may lead to various symptoms, including weakness or paralysis of the adductor muscles, numbness or tingling in the inner thigh, and difficulty with certain leg movements. In medical practice, knowledge of the nervus obturatorius and its function is crucial for understanding and diagnosing conditions affecting the lower limb and pelvic region.
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Obturator nerve, arises from the 2d, 3d, and 4th lumbar nerves by three roots in the psoas muscle, passes downward and forward below the brim of the pelvis, and enters the thigh through the obturator groove of the thyroid foramen; it supplies muscles and skin on the inner side of the thigh.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVUS OBTURATORIUS
Etymology of NERVUS OBTURATORIUS
The term "nervus obturatorius" has a Latin etymology.
- "Nervus" means "nerve" in Latin.
- "Obturatorius" is derived from the Latin word "obturare", which means "to block" or "to close".
Therefore, "nervus obturatorius" can be translated to "obturator nerve" in English. This nerve gets its name because it traverses through the obturator foramen, a bony opening in the pelvic bone.
