Thigh nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the nerves (white) and muscles (red) of a human thigh. At top centre, the crural nerve enters from the pelvic region and immediately splits into numerous internal and external branches to the muscles and skin of the thigh. One of the nerves that descends to the lower leg is the internal saphenous nerve. This is seen running next to the femoral artery (red), the major artery of the leg. Behind the femoral artery is the femoral vein (blue). White areas at bottom and top are ligaments of the knee and pelvis. Artwork from The Nerves of the Human Body (Ed. Jones Quain, London, 1839).