In the area of the obturator canal, the obturator nerve divides into anterior and posterior branches. On entering the medial compartment of the thigh, the two branches are separated by the obturator externus and adductor brevis muscles. Throughout their course through the medial compartment, these two branches supply: articular branches to the hip joint, muscular branches to the obturator externus, pectineus, adductor longus, gracilis, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus muscles, cutaneous branches to the medial aspect of the thigh, and in association with the saphenous nerve, cutaneous branches to the medial aspect of the upper part of the leg and articular branches to the knee joint (Fig. 4.175).