Sciatic Nerve
(Redirected from Sciatic nerve)
Description
-
![Anatomical course of the sciatic nerve. A schematic illustration showing the anatomy of the sciatic nerve and the area affected in sciatica.[1]](/w/images/thumb/3/3c/Sciatic_nerve_anatomy.jpeg/120px-Sciatic_nerve_anatomy.jpeg)
Anatomical course of the sciatic nerve. A schematic illustration showing the anatomy of the sciatic nerve and the area affected in sciatica.[1] -
![Anatomical pathways of the left pelvic pudendal nerve and sciatic nerve, along with their relationship to the piriformis muscle[2]](/w/images/thumb/0/09/Sciatic_nerve_pudendal_nerve.jpeg/120px-Sciatic_nerve_pudendal_nerve.jpeg)
Anatomical pathways of the left pelvic pudendal nerve and sciatic nerve, along with their relationship to the piriformis muscle[2] -
![Anatomical presentation of the bifurcations of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa[3]](/w/images/thumb/c/c2/Sciatic_nerve_bifurcation_popliteal_fossa.jpeg/120px-Sciatic_nerve_bifurcation_popliteal_fossa.jpeg)
Anatomical presentation of the bifurcations of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa[3] -
Sciatic nerve originating from the lumbosacral plexus. The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and sciatic nerve are highlighted whereas other nerves are hidden -
![Anatomy of the sciatic nerve and its branches[4]](/w/images/thumb/6/6b/Sciatic_nerve_anatomy_branches.jpeg/77px-Sciatic_nerve_anatomy_branches.jpeg)
Anatomy of the sciatic nerve and its branches[4]
![Anatomical course of the sciatic nerve. A schematic illustration showing the anatomy of the sciatic nerve and the area affected in sciatica.[1]](/File:Sciatic_nerve_anatomy.jpeg)
![Anatomical pathways of the left pelvic pudendal nerve and sciatic nerve, along with their relationship to the piriformis muscle[2]](/File:Sciatic_nerve_pudendal_nerve.jpeg)
![Anatomical presentation of the bifurcations of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa[3]](/File:Sciatic_nerve_bifurcation_popliteal_fossa.jpeg)
![Anatomy of the sciatic nerve and its branches[4]](/File:Sciatic_nerve_anatomy_branches.jpeg)
Name
- Sciatic Nerve
- Ischiadic Nerve
- Nervus Ischiadicus
- Posterior Thigh Nerve
- Lumbosacral Sciatic Nerve
- Greater Sciatic Nerve
Introduction
- Major nerve of the lower limb
Description
- Thick, flat band
- Approximately 2 cm wide
- Largest nerve in the body
Nerve Roots
- L4-S3
- Anterior rami of the lower lumbar (L4-L5)
- Upper sacral spinal nerves (S1, S2, S3)
Motor Innervations
- Biceps Femoris
- Semimembranosus
- Semitendinosus
- Hamstring portion of the adductor magnus (remaining portion of which is supplied by the obturator nerve)
- Note: indirectly innervates all the muscles of the leg/foot via terminal branches
Sensory Function
- No direct sensory innervations
- Note: terminal branches provide sensory of the lateral leg, heel, dorsal and plantar foot
Anatomic Course
- Derived from the Lumbosacral Plexus
- Leaves the pelvis, enters gluteal region via the greater sciatic foramen
- Here, it emerges inferiorly to the piriformis muscle and descends inferolateral
- As it descends, it crosses superior gemellus, obturator internus, inferior gemellus and quadratus femoris
- Enters posterior thigh passing deep to long head of biceps femoris
- In the posterior thigh, branches arise for the hamstring muscles and adductor magnus
- As the nerve approaches the popliteal fossa, it bifurcates
- Into tibial nerve, common fibular nerve
- Tibial nerve responsible for posterior leg, some of the muscles of the foot
- Common fibular nerve responsible for anterior and lateral leg, some of the muscles of the foot
Clinical Significance
Pathology
Procedures
See Also
References
- ↑ Thakur, Sudha, et al. "Occupational therapy‐based rehabilitation of sciatic nerve pain." Brain‐X 2.4 (2024): e70010.
- ↑ Ding, Fanffang, et al. "Mixed Chronic Scrotal Pain Secondary to Piriformis Scarring Treated with PRF: A Case Report." Frontiers in Medicine 12 (2025): 1650218.
- ↑ León-Andrino, Alejandro, et al. "Biological approach in the treatment of external popliteal sciatic nerve (EPSN) neurological injury." Journal of Clinical Medicine 11.10 (2022): 2804.
- ↑ Image courtesy of britannica.com
- ↑ Sehmbi, Herman, and Ushma Jitendra Shah. "Ultrasound-guided approaches to sciatic nerve block." International Journal of Perioperative Ultrasound & Applied Technologies 2.3 (2013): 135.
- ↑ Image courtesy of kenhub.com
- ↑ Torun, Bilge İpek, et al. "The course of the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region and comparison of two methods used for sciatic nerve blockage." Anatomy 16.1 (2022): 19-25.