What are the major nerve(s) of the lower extremities derived from the femoral nerve?

The saphenous nerve is a major branch of the femoral nerve that plays a significant role in the innervation of the lower extremity. It is primarily responsible for providing sensory innervation to the medial aspect of the leg and foot. The saphenous nerve does not contain any motor fibers; rather, it functions entirely as a sensory nerve. This includes providing sensation to the skin over the medial side of the leg, as well as the majority of the medial side of the foot.

The other options include nerves that are either branches of other nerves or do not originate specifically from the femoral nerve. For example, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is derived from the lumbar plexus but is not a branch of the femoral nerve itself. The peroneal and tibial nerves branch off from the sciatic nerve rather than the femoral nerve, while the saphenous nerve is specifically a direct branch of the femoral nerve. Hence, recognizing the saphenous nerve as a direct derivation from the femoral nerve makes it the correct answer.