The furcal nerve (forked nerve) links the
lumbar plexus
The lumbar plexus is a web of nerves (a nerve plexus) in the lumbar region of the body which forms part of the larger lumbosacral plexus. It is formed by the divisions of the first four lumbar nerves (L1–L4) and from contributions of the su ...
and the
sacral plexus
In human anatomy, the sacral plexus is a nerve plexus which provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg and foot, and part of the pelvis. It is part of the lumbosacral plexus and emerges from the lumbar verteb ...
. It has its own dorsal and ventral branches with fibres that branch out to become part of the
femoral and
obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.
Structure
The o ...
s. The furcal nerve is found in the lumbosacral trunk most commonly at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4).
Structure and location
The furcal nerve is an independent nerve that links the lumbar plexus to the sacral plexus. It is most commonly found at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The next most common site is the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3). The furcal nerve can be found at any level from L1 to S1 but has not been reported at L1. Occasionally a double furcal nerve is found.
It gives branches to the
femoral nerve
The femoral nerve is a nerve in the thigh that supplies skin on the upper thigh and inner leg, and the muscles that extend the knee. It is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus.
Structure
The femoral nerve is the major nerve supplying the ant ...
,
lumbosacral trunk
The lumbosacral trunk is nervous tissue that connects the lumbar plexus with the sacral plexus. It is formed by the union of parts of the fourth and fifth lumbar nerves and descends to join the sacral plexus.
Anatomy
The lumbosacral trunk is f ...
, and
obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.
Structure
The o ...
.
Clinical significance
The furcal nerve is found at various locations and can give problems in the diagnosis of a radiculopathy or
sciatic pain. It is the main cause of atypical symptoms of sciatic and radicular pain, that are often due to lumbar disc herniation. A study found evidence of double-rooted abnormality in most of the cases looked at.
References
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Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso