BACKGROUND: Together with an increased interest in minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach to the lumbar spine goes a demand for detailed anatomical descriptions of the lumbar plexus. Although definitions of safe zones and essential descriptions of topographical anatomy have been presented in several studies, the existing literature expects standard appearance of the neural structures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the variability of the extrapsoas portion of the lumbar plexus in regard to the lateral transpsoas approach. METHODS: A total of 260 lumbar regions from embalmed cadavers were utilized in this study. The specimens were dissected as per protocol and all nerves from the lumbar plexus were morphologically evaluated. RESULTS: The most common variation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves was fusion of these two nerves (9.6%). Nearly in the half of the cases (48.1%) the genitofemoral nerve left the psoas major muscle already divided into the femoral and genital branches. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was the least variable one as it resembled its normal morphology in 95.0% of cases. Regarding the variant origins of the femoral nerve, there was a low formation outside the psoas major muscle in 3.8% of cases. The obturator nerve was not variable at its emergence point but frequently branched (40.4%) before entering the obturator canal. In addition to the proper femoral and obturator nerves, accessory nerves were present in 12.3% and 9.2% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Nerves of the lumbar plexus frequently show atypical anatomy outside the psoas major muscle. The presented study provides a compendious information source of the possibly encountered neural variations during retroperitoneal access to different segments of the lumbar spine.

• Klíčová slova
• Femoral nerve, Genitofemoral nerve, Iliohypogastric nerve, Ilioinguinal nerve, Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, Lateral transpsoas approach, Lumbar plexus, Obturator nerve,
• MeSH
• bederní obratle * chirurgie   anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• bederní svaly * anatomie a histologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• miniinvazivní chirurgické výkony metody   MeSH
• mrtvola * MeSH
• nervus femoralis anatomie a histologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• nervus obturatorius anatomie a histologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• plexus lumbosacralis * anatomie a histologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: The pudendal nerve is an anatomical structure arising from the ventral branches of the spinal roots S2-S4. Its complex course may be affected by surrounding structures. This may result in irritation or entrapment of the nerve with subsequent clinical symptoms. Aim of this study is to review the anatomy of the pudendal nerve and to provide detailed photographic documentation of the areas with most frequent clinical impact which are essential for surgical approach. METHODS: Major medical databases were searched to identify all anatomical studies investigating pudendal nerve and its variability, and possible clinical outcome of these variants. Extracted data consisted of morphometric parameters, arrangement of the pudendal nerve at the level of roots, formation of pudendal nerve, position according to sacrospinal and sacrotuberal ligaments and its terminal branches. One female cadaver hemipelvis was dissected with common variability of separate course of inferior rectal nerve. During dissection photodocumentation was made to record course of pudendal nerve with focus on areas with recorded pathologies and areas exposed to iatrogenic damage during surgical procedures. RESULTS: Narrative review was done to provide background for photodocumentation. Unique photos of course of the pudendal nerve was made in areas with great clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of anatomical variations and course of the pudendal nerve is important for examinations and surgical interventions. Surgically exposed areas may become a site for iatrogenic damage of pudendal nerve; therefore, unique picture was made to clarify topographic relations.

• Klíčová slova
• Anatomical variation, Entrapment, Pudendal nerve, Pudendal neuralgia, Sacrospinous ligament, Sacrotuberous ligament,
• MeSH
• disekce MeSH
• iatrogenní nemoci MeSH
• kloubní ligamenta MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mrtvola MeSH
• pánev MeSH
• pudendální nerv * anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• pudendální neuralgie * chirurgie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH