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 ...
, often gives a communicating branch to the first
lumbar nerve
The lumbar nerves are the five pairs of spinal nerves emerging from the lumbar vertebrae. They are divided into posterior and anterior divisions.
Structure
The lumbar nerves are five spinal nerves which arise from either side of the spinal cord ...
, and passes under the
lateral lumbocostal arch
The lateral arcuate ligament (also lateral lumbocostal arch and external arcuate ligament) is a ligament under the diaphragm that arches across the upper part of the quadratus lumborum muscle. It is traversed by the subcostal nerve, artery and vein ...
.
It then runs in front of the
quadratus lumborum, innervates the
transversus
The transverse abdominal muscle (TVA), also known as the transverse abdominis, transversalis muscle and transversus abdominis muscle, is a muscle layer of the anterior and lateral (front and side) abdominal wall which is deep to (layered below) th ...
, 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 fiber ...
to be distributed in the same manner as the
lower intercostal nerves.
It communicates with the
iliohypogastric nerve
The iliohypogastric nerve is a nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus that supplies sensation to skin over the lateral gluteal and hypogastric regions and motor to the internal oblique muscles and transverse abdominal muscles.
Structure ...
and the
ilioinguinal nerve
The ilioinguinal nerve is a branch of the first lumbar nerve (L1). It separates from the first lumbar nerve along with the larger iliohypogastric nerve. It emerges from the lateral border of the psoas major just inferior to the iliohypogastric, a ...
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 Ventral ramus of spinal nerve, divisions of the first four lumbar nerves (L1-L4) and ...
,
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 attaches ...
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 sh ...
.
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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