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Bone Cancer

Plexus

Plexuses are formed from networks that weave nerve roots together.

Lumbar and sacral plexus

What Are The Roles Of The Nerve Plexus?

Movement and sensation are the two main functions of the nerve plexuses transmit signals between the brain and lower limbs.

Muscles: walking, running, jumping and standing.

Sensation: touch, pain, and temperature.

However, the plexuses differ in the sensation and specific muscles they control from the upper thigh to the toes.

Moreover, there is also a contribution to the anterior ramus of spinal nerve T12 (thoracic).

Damage can cause numbness, tingling of lower limbs, sciatica (slipped disc/irritation of L4 to S3 sends pain towardsthe buttock and back of leg), and foot drop (unable to lift the front of the foot).

Lumbar Plexus Summary Table And Supporting Images

Lumbar plexus

Sacral Plexus Summary Table And Supporting Images

Sacral plexus Download

Types of movement associated with the lower legs that are affected, with supporting images

An overview of the main movements involving the legs

Additional Supporting Images

References

Anatomy System (2026) Lower Limb Nerves. Available at: https://anatomysystem.com/lower-limb-nerves/ (Accessed: 5^th May 2026)

Anatomy.co.uk (2025a) Perforating cutaneous nerve. Available at: https://anatomy.co.uk/perforating-cutaneous-nerve (Accessed: 26th July 2026)

Anatomy.co.uk (2025b) Sacral splanchnic nerves. Available at: https://anatomy.co.uk/sacral-splanchnic-nerves (Accessed: 26th July 2026)

Anatomy.co.uk (2025c) Nerve to Piriformis. Available at: https://anatomy.co.uk/nerve-to-piriformis (Accessed: 26th July 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2025a) Types of bone cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bone-cancer/types (Accessed: 3rd April 2026)

Davies, K. (2026) Sacral Plexus. Available at: https://teachmeanatomy.info/lower-limb/nerves/sacral-plexus/ (Accessed: 26th July 2026)

Hosseini, H., Heydari, S., Kiavash Hushmandi, Salman Daneshi and Rasoul Raesi (2025). Bone tumors: a systematic review of prevalence, risk determinants, and survival patterns. BMC Cancer, 25(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13720-0.

Li, Y., Yin, P., Guo, Z., Lv, H., Deng, Y., Chen, M., Gu, Y., Tang, P. and Zhang, L. (2019). Bone-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Novel Players of Interorgan Crosstalk. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 10. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00846.

Miniato, M., Black, A. and Varacallo, M. (2023) Anatomy, Back, Lumbosacral Trunk. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539878/ (Accessed: 26th July 2026)

Pullan, J. and Lotfollahzadeh, S. (2024). Primary Bone Cancer. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560830/ (Accessed: 9^th April 2026)

Schierling, R. (2017) Fascial adhesions are a chief culprit in numerous chronic pain syndromes caused by cutaneous nerve entrapments. Available at:https://doctorschierling.com/blog/fascial-adhesions-are-a-chief-culprit-in-numerous-chronic-pain-syndromes-caused-by-cutaneous-nerve-entrapments (Accessed: 6^th May 2026)

Science Insights (2026) What Spinal Nerves Affect the Legs: L1 to S3. Available at: https://scienceinsights.org/what-spinal-nerves-affect-the-legs-l1-to-s3/ (Accessed: 5^th May 2026)

Soldatos, T., Andreisek, G., Thawait, G., Guggenberger, R., Williams, E., Carrino, J. and Chhabra, A. (2013) High-Resolution 3-T MR Neurography of the Lumbosacral Plexus. RadioGraphics 33 (4).

Updated July 2026 Next Review July 2028