Anna Jeon; Soon-Gi Back & Je-Hun Lee

This study aims to perform a comprehensive anatomical analysis of the spatial relationship between the saphenous and obturator nerves in the context of the vastoadductor membrane. Furthermore, it seeks to offer an initial evaluation of the potential benefits of manual compression of the femoral triangle for individuals experiencing knee pain during activities such as lunges and squats. Twenty-nine lower limbs from both embalmed and fresh Korean cadavers were dissected to investigate the anatomical course of the obturator nerve. And, participants were recruited from university-level physical education students who reported experiencing knee pain during exercises such as squats and lunges. The incidence of neural structures passing through the vastoadductor membrane was 41.3 %. Notably, communicating branches between the obturator nerve and the saphenous nerve were identified in 75.8 % of cases. Furthermore, in participants who reported knee pain, repeated application and release of manual pressure to areas of palpable tension around the femoral triangle resulted in the alleviation of local tension, which was accompanied by a reduction or resolution of knee pain. Increased awareness of these neural pathways can aid in more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies for exercise-induced knee pain.

KEY WORDS Anatomy; Obturator nerve; Saphenous nerve; Entrapment; Knee pain.

JEON, A.; BACK, S.-G. & LEE, J.-H. Anatomical investigation of the obturator and saphenous nerves as potential contributors to exercise-induced knee pain. Int. J. Morphol., 43(4):1382-1387, 2025.