Cutaneous nerve

A cutaneous nerve is a nerve that innervates the skin.

Human anatomy

Dermatomes and major cutaneous nerves.

In human anatomy, cutaneous nerves are responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin. They are generally thought of as sensory-only nerves, but they may provide motor innervation to structures in the skin, e.g. sweat glands.

There are many cutaneous nerves in the human body, only some of which are named. Some of the larger cutaneous nerves are as follows:

Upper body

Main article: Cutaneous innervation of the upper limbs

• In the arm (proper)
  • Superior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm (Superior LCNOA)
  • Inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm (Inferior LCNOA)
  • Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm (PCNOA)
  • Medial cutaneous nerve of arm (MCNOA)
• In the forearm
  • Lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm (LCNOF)
  • Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm (PCNOF)
  • Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm (MCNOF)

Lower body

Main article: Cutaneous innervation of the lower limbs

• In the thigh
  • Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh (LCNOT)
  • Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh (PCNOT)

Other

• In the torso
  • Ventral cutaneous branches
  • Lateral cutaneous branches
  • Dorsal cutaneous branches

• In the neck & head:
  • Supraorbital nerve
  • Infraorbital nerve
  • Mental nerve
  • Buccal nerve
  • Auriculotemporal nerve
  • Supraclavicular nerves (C3, C4)
  • Great auricular nerve (C2, C3)
  • Greater occipital nerve (C2)