During an open inguinal hernia repair, a nerve is inadvertently divided as it leaves the deep inguinal ring to run on the surface of the spermatic cord. Postoperatively the patient is found to have lost the efferent limb of the cremasteric reflex on that side. Which nerve was injured?

• A Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve ✓
• B Ilioinguinal nerve
• C Femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve
• D Iliohypogastric nerve

Explanation

The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve enters the inguinal canal at the deep ring, travels with the spermatic cord, supplies the cremaster muscle and provides sensation to the anterior scrotum. Dividing it abolishes the motor (efferent) limb of the cremasteric reflex. The ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves are purely sensory in this region and cause numbness or neuralgia when injured, while the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve carries the afferent limb of the reflex and does not enter the canal.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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