Do females have a genitofemoral nerve?

The genitofemoral nerve is primarily a sensory nerve that provides supply to the upper thigh region in both sexes. Specifically, it supplies the mons pubis and labia majora in females, and the skin of the anterior scrotum in males.

What nerves run through the inguinal canal?

There are two known nerves that pass within the structures of the inguinal canal. These nerves are the ilioinguinal and the genitofemoral nerves.

What does the genitofemoral nerve control?

Function. The genitofemoral nerve is responsible for both the sensory (femoral branch) and motor portions (genital branch) of the cremasteric reflex, which describes contraction of the cremasteric muscle when the skin of the superior medial part of the thigh is touched.

Is genitofemoral nerve in inguinal canal?

The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve enters the inguinal canal via the deep inguinal ring. In males, the genital branch supplies the scrotal skin and cremaster. In females, the genital branch is accompanied by the round ligament of the uterus and supplies sensation to the labia majora and mons pubis.

What is in the inguinal canal?

The contents of the inguinal canal in males consist of the spermatic cord (with the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve) and the ilioinguinal nerve. For females, the contents include the round ligament, genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, and the ilioinguinal nerve.

What is genitofemoral nerve?

The genitofemoral nerve arises from the lumbar plexus. It supplies sensation to the skin of the anterior scrotal area in males, mons pubis in females, and the upper segment of the anterior thigh in both males and females.

Does genitofemoral nerve go through inguinal canal?

What are the signs and symptoms of genitofemoral nerve entrapment?

The symptoms include groin pain, paresthesias, and burning sensation spreading from the lower abdomen to the medial aspect of the thigh. It may present with scrotal pain in male, while females experience symptoms radiating to the labia majora and mons pubis.

How does ilioinguinal nerve enters inguinal canal?

As it descends the nerve often crosses across the iliacus muscle. At the anterior end of the iliac crest the ilioinguinal nerve pierces the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles to enter the inguinal canal from the side, not through the deep ring.

Do females have inguinal canals?

The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. There is one inguinal canal on each side of the midline.

What does the genitofemoral nerve divide into?

Genitofemoral nerve divides into genital nerve and femoral nerve. Genital branch further goes in the inguinal canal and goes through the inguinal ring. In men, it goes along with the spermatic cord and supplies motor fibers to cremaster and dartos muscles.

What is genitofemoral neuralgia?

Genitofemoral neuralgia is a syndrome characterized by severe pain in the lower abdomen  due to the compression of the genitofemoral nerve. The pain can be distributed anywhere along the path of the nerve and its branches.

What causes genitofemoral neuropathy?

Genitofemoral neuropathy has been attributed to iatrogenic nerve injury occurring during inguinal and femoral herniorrhaphy, with cases developing after both open and laparoscopic techniques.

It is characterized by chronic neuropathic groin pain that is localized along the distribution of the genitofemoral nerve. The symptoms include groin pain, paresthesias, and burning sensation spreading from the lower abdomen to the medial aspect of the thigh.