Abstract: Objective　To reveal the whole-mount distribution pattern of the cutaneous nerve of the thigh by the modified Sihler's staining method, so as to provide morphological basis for the sensory reconstruction of flap transplantation.　Methods　Twelve Chinese adult cadavers and 12 children cadavers were fixed with formalin. The skin of the thigh closed to the muscle surface with subcutaneous fat was removed. The modified Sihler's staining method was used to show the distribution pattern of cutaneous nerve in the thigh.　Results　The specimens were light purple after Sihler's staining, and the cutaneous nerves and their branches were black. We could see macroscopically the arborized branches and distribution patterns of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, the anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve, the femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve, the medial cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve, the cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve and the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. There were obvious connection among the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, the anterior cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve and the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve.  The nerve branches at all levels were densely distributed in the middle part of anteromedial femoral region and the middle band of posterior femoral region, and there was connection between these branches.　Conclusions　The middle part of anteromedial femoral region and the middle band of posterior femoral region should be recommended as the preferred donor regions for sensory reconstruction in flat transplantation.

Key words: Thigh, 　Cutaneous nerve, 　Distribution pattern, 　Sihler's staining, 　Sensory reconstruction