Thoracoabdominal nerve

The thoracoabdominal nerves are the continuation of the anterior divisions of thoracic intercostal nerves T7 through T12 as they enter and innervate the abdominal wall. They travel between the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles, supply motor innervation to these and other abdominal wall muscles (including rectus abdominis, pyramidalis, external oblique), and provide sensory innervation to the skin covering the abdominal wall. The nerves also carry sympathetic fibers to sweat glands and blood vessels. The T7-T9 nerves supply the skin above the umbilicus; T10 the region around the umbilicus; T11-T12, and L1 nerves supply skin below the umbilicus and peripheral areas of the diaphragm. Entrapment or injury to these nerves can result in pain syndromes that sometimes mimic gynecological or other abdominal conditions in clinical presentation

Other names

Thoraco-abdominal nervethoracicoabdominal intercostal nerveT7-T12 thoracoabdominal nerveslower intercostal nerves (T7-T11)subcostal nerve (T12)

Nerve blockade causing loss of sensation and motor function (via sodium channel inhibition in peripheral neurons)