Greater Sciatic Foramen

Description

Illustration of the greater and lesser sciatic foramen

Name

• Greater Sciatic Foramen

General

• Formed by the sacrotuberous ligament, sacrospinous ligament
• The piriformis muscle passes through the foramen, occupies most of the space
• Wider in women than in men
• Provides a passageway for structures to pass from the pelvis into the gluteal region

Borders

• Anterolateral: greater sciatic notch of the ilium
• Posteromedial: sacrotuberous ligament
• Inferior: sacrospinous ligament, ischial spine
• Superior: anterior sacroiliac ligament

Function

• Facilitates neurovascular bundles exiting the pelvis
• Above piriformis (suprapiriform foramen)
  • Vessels: Superior gluteal vessels
  • Nerve: superior gluteal nerve
• Below the piriformis (infrapiriform foramen)
  • Vessels: interior gluteal vessels, internal pudendal vessels
  • Nerves: inferior gluteal nerve, pudendal nerve, sciatic nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, Nerve to obturator internus, Nerve to quadratus femoris

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Clinical Significance

• Needs to be updated

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See Also

• Hip Pain Main
• Hip Anatomy Main
• Physical Exam Hip

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