Table 1.

Sensory Innervation of the Knee

Compartment	Nerves	Considerations	Joint Supply	Cutaneous Supply
Anterior	Femoral nerve	Crosses behind the inguinal ligament and lateral to the femoral artery and provides branches to innervate each muscular component of the quadriceps muscle (Vastus Medialis, intermedious and lateralis branches)	The vastus medialis to the medial collateral ligament, The vastus lateralis branches end at the quadriceps tendon without innervating the capsule of the knee	The vastus medialis to the superomedial aspect, The vastus Intermedius to the anterosuperior aspect of the knee
	Common fibular nerve	Provides articular (genicular) branches to knee, lateral superior, lateral inferior, recurrent.	Inferolateral capsule of the knee joint, proximal tibiofibular joint	Lateral aspect of the knee
	Saphenous nerve	Cutaneous branch of the Femoral nerve Runs into the adductor canal	Infrapatellar Branch Descending Branch Antero inferior capsule of knee joint	Medial and inferior aspect of the knee
Posterior	Tibial nerve	Branch of the Sciatic nerve, provides the posterior articular nerve.	Articular (genicular) branches to knee medial superior, medial inferior, middle and capsular branches	Medial portion of the capsule, retinaculum, collateral ligaments of knee joint proximal and distal tibiofibular joint
	Obturator nerve	Originates two main branches: anterior and posterior	Posterior branch to joint capsule, cruciate ligaments and synovial membrane	Anterior branch to medial aspect and mid-thigh
Plexuses	Contributors to the plexus		Sensory innervation
Peripatellar	Femoral nerve: medial, intermediate, lateral femoral cutaneous nerves Saphenous nerve: infrapatellar branch Retinacular nerves: medial (terminal branch of nerve to vastus medius), lateral (direct branch of sciatic nerve) Nerve to vastus intermedius		Skin anterior, superior, inferior, medial and lateral to patella; retinacula; collateral ligaments and capsule of knee joint
Subsartorial	Saphenous nerve: infrapatellar branch Obturator nerve: anterior division Medial femoral cutaneous nerve Nerve to vastus medius		Cutaneous to medial side of knee, retinaculum, collateral ligaments and capsule of knee joint
Popliteal	Tibial nerve Sciatic nerve Obturator nerve		Retinaculum, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, collateral ligaments and capsule of knee joint

Adapted from Pulsed radiofrequency of the composite nerve supply to the knee joint as a new technique for relieving osteoarthritic pain: a preliminary report. Pain Physician.2014;17(6):493-506.