Which nerve provides motor innervation to the iliacus muscle?

Which nerve provides motor innervation to the iliacus muscle?

• A. Sciatic nerve
• B. Obturator nerve
• C. Femoral nerve
• D. Lumbosacral trunk

Answer: (C)

Motor innervation to the iliacus muscle comes from the femoral nerve. The iliacus, located in the iliac fossa, works with psoas major as the iliopsoas to flex the hip, making the femoral nerve the key motor supply. This nerve arises from L2–L4 in the lumbar plexus, then travels under the inguinal ligament into the thigh, giving branches to the iliacus as well as to the quadriceps and sartorius. The other nerves don’t innervate iliacus: the sciatic nerve mainly supplies the posterior thigh and leg, the obturator nerve supplies the medial thigh adductors, and the lumbosacral trunk feeds into the sacral plexus rather than the iliacus.

Motor innervation to the iliacus muscle comes from the femoral nerve. The iliacus, located in the iliac fossa, works with psoas major as the iliopsoas to flex the hip, making the femoral nerve the key motor supply. This nerve arises from L2–L4 in the lumbar plexus, then travels under the inguinal ligament into the thigh, giving branches to the iliacus as well as to the quadriceps and sartorius. The other nerves don’t innervate iliacus: the sciatic nerve mainly supplies the posterior thigh and leg, the obturator nerve supplies the medial thigh adductors, and the lumbosacral trunk feeds into the sacral plexus rather than the iliacus.