Abstract: Objective　To explore the details of anatomy and surface localization of saphenous nerve near to inferior foramen of adductor canal.　Methods　Twenty sides of lower limb from 12 cadaver specimen were dissected to measure the key structures adjacent to the adductor canal.　Results　Saphenous nerve, femoral artery and femoral vein located in the anteromedial, medial and posterior part of adductor canal, respectively. At the site of the inferior foramen of adductor canal, the descending genicular artery, vein and saphenous nerve penetrated through adductor tendon plate and appeared in adductor canal, which were accompanied by the great saphenous vein. Saphenous nerve passed through deep fascia between sartorius tendon and gracilis tendon on the medial surface of knee, and descended to the medial surface of leg and foot. The distances from inferior foramen of adductor canal to superior border of patella, to medial margin of the patella, and to the medial surface of thigh skin were (5.85±0.15) cm, (2.72±0.60) cm and (4.08±0.66) cm, respectively. Conclusions　Surface localization point of saphenous nerve block should be limited to a specific area, which is about 5.85 cm upper to the superior border of patella, 2.72 cm internal to medial margin of the patella, and 4.08 cm deep to the medial surface of thigh. For saphenous nerve blocking, femoral artery could be regarded as a localization mark above inferior foramen of adductor canal, while, the saphenous branch of the descending genicular artery as the localization mark below inferior foramen of adductor canal. 

Key words: Inferior foramen of adductor canal;　Saphenous nerve;　Descending genicular artery, Saphenous nerve block