The femoral nerve is located in the leg and supplies the muscles that assist the knee with bending. It supplies sensation to the front of the thigh and part of the lower leg. Femoral nerve dysfunction affects approximately 2 out of 10,000 people. Dysfunction of a single nerve group such as the femoral nerve is classed as mononeuropathy .
Entrapment involves pressure on the nerve where it passes through a narrow structure.
This damage slows or prevents conduction of impulses through the nerve. The femoral nerve can be injured as a result of pelvic fractures . It may be injured during procedures involving catheterization of the femoral artery. It can be damaged by pressure from lesions such as tumor, abscess , or internal bleeding into the pelvis or abdomen. In some cases, no detectable cause can be identified.