Femoral Nerve Anatomy — FRCA Primary MCQ

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ModerateAnatomyFemoral Nerve AnatomyFRCA Primary

Immediately distal to the inguinal ligament, which statement correctly describes the position of the femoral nerve relative to the femoral artery and femoral sheath?

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Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Lateral to the artery and outside the femoral sheath

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · D = shown as C · E = shown as D · A = shown as E

C is correct. Immediately distal to the inguinal ligament, the femoral nerve lies lateral to the femoral artery, deep to the fascia iliaca. It is outside the femoral sheath. The sheath encloses the femoral artery and vein and forms the femoral canal medially, but it does not enclose the femoral nerve. Therefore, A is wrong despite correctly placing the nerve lateral to the artery, because it places it within the sheath. B correctly states that the nerve is outside the sheath but reverses its relationship to the artery. D and E incorrectly place the nerve within the sheath and give the wrong relationship to the artery. The lateral-to-medial arrangement is nerve, artery, vein and femoral canal.

Reference: The BMJ. Picture Quiz: Know your anatomy—the femoral triangle, section 'The femoral vessels and nerve', 2003. https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/Plan%20A%20-%20Upper%20%20Lower%20Limb_A0_FINAL_With%20crop%20marks.pdf