The subcostal nerve (anterior division of the twelfth thoracic nerve
) is larger than the others. It runs along the lower border of the
twelfth rib
The rib cage, as an enclosure that comprises the ribs, vertebral column and sternum in the thorax of most vertebrates, protects vital organs such as the heart, lungs and great vessels.
The sternum, together known as the thoracic cage, is a semi-r ...
, often gives a communicating branch to the first
lumbar nerve, and passes under the
lateral lumbocostal arch.
It then runs in front of the
quadratus lumborum
The quadratus lumborum muscle, informally called the ''QL'', is a paired muscle of the left and right posterior abdominal wall. It is the deepest abdominal muscle, and commonly referred to as a back muscle. Each is irregular and quadrilateral in s ...
, innervates the
transversus, and passes forward between it and the
abdominal internal oblique
The abdominal internal oblique muscle, also internal oblique muscle or interior oblique, is an abdominal muscle in the abdominal wall that lies below the external oblique muscle and just above the transverse abdominal muscle.
Structure
Its fib ...
to be distributed in the same manner as the
lower intercostal nerves.
It communicates with the
iliohypogastric nerve and the
ilioinguinal nerve of the
lumbar plexus
The lumbar plexus is a web of nerves (a nervous 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 subc ...
,
and gives a branch to the
pyramidalis muscle
The pyramidalis muscle is a small triangular muscle, anterior to the rectus abdominis muscle, and contained in the rectus sheath.
Structure
The pyramidalis muscle is part of the anterior abdominal wall. Inferiorly, the pyramidalis muscle attache ...
and the
quadratus lumborum muscle
The quadratus lumborum muscle, informally called the ''QL'', is a paired muscle of the left and right posterior abdominal wall. It is the deepest abdominal muscle, and commonly referred to as a back muscle. Each is irregular and quadrilateral in s ...
.
It also gives off a lateral cutaneous branch that supplies sensory innervation to the skin over the hip.
Additional images
File:Nervous system diagram-en.svg, Nervous system
File:Gray803.png, The posterior divisions of the sacral nerves.
File:Gray822.png, Plan of lumbar plexus.
File:Gray825and830.PNG, Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.
See also
*
Subcostal artery
*
Subcostal vein
References
External links
* ()
*
* - "Posterior Abdominal Wall, Dissection, Anterior View"
* - "Muscles and nerves of the posterior abdominal wall."
*
Spinal nerves
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