Obturator nerve

The obturator nerve is a nerve of the lumbar plexus ( lumbar plexus ). He has in humans originated in 2nd to 4th lumbar segment of the spinal cord (L2 -L4), with the domestic animals in the posterior lumbar region (L4 -S1). He pulls the inside of the bony pelvis and then to the obturator artery and vein through the obturator canal to the inner side of the thigh.

The obturator nerve provides motor innervation to the adductor muscles of the legs ( in animals according to the adductor muscles of the hind limbs ):

• Musculus obturator externus
• Musculus adductor magnus (along with the tibial nerve )
• Musculus adductor longus
• Musculus adductor brevis
• Musculus pectineus (along with femoral nerve )
• Gracilis

The nerve innervated also sensitive to the hip joint, as well as in humans in addition a small skin area at the inner thigh.

Obturatoriuslähmung

Paralysis of the obturator nerve mainly occur during childbirth. During the passage of the newborn through the pelvis, it can pinch off the nerve against the inner pelvic wall. Particularly common is this before the beef, because cows have a relatively narrow birth canal. Rarely, paralysis after surgical removal of lymph nodes in prostate cancer, since in this case the nerve can also be damaged.

In case of such paralysis the leg is slightly abducted and may even on slippery surfaces ausgrätschen completely to the side. During forward movement, it is not guided in a straight line but in an arc outward.

Obturator nerve block

The obturator nerve blockade is performed in urological surgery of the bladder when using electrocautery through the urethra ( transurethral ) tissue on the side wall of the bladder should be removed. The obturator nerve runs directly outside the bladder wall and could be tempted by the current administration to the bladder, which reflex contractions of the adductor muscles of the leg would result, creating a perforation of the bladder would be possible by the introduced there resectoscope. The nerve block is to prevent these contractions.

Further indications are the addition of a incomplete "3- in-1 block " pain syndromes of the hip joint ( sensory branches of the ramus anterior) and adductor states in which the insertion of a catheter for continuous pain pain management is possible.