Greater sciatic foramen
Encyclopedia
Boundaries
It is bounded as follows:- anterolaterally by the greater sciatic notchGreater sciatic notchAbove the ischial spine is a large notch, the greater sciatic notch, converted into a foramen by the sacrospinous ligament.It transmits the Piriformis, the superior and inferior gluteal vessels and nerves, the sciatic and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, the internal pudendal vessels, and the...
of the illium - posteromedially by the sacrotuberous ligamentSacrotuberous ligamentThe sacrotuberous ligament is situated at the lower and back part of the pelvis. It is flat, and triangular in form; narrower in the middle than at the ends....
- inferiorly by the sacrospinous ligamentSacrospinous ligament-External links: - "Posterior view of the bones and ligaments of the hip joint."*...
and the ischial spine - superiorly by the anterior sacroilliac ligament
Contents
The Piriformis, which exits the pelvis through the Greater sciatic foramen, occupies most of the foramen.The following structures also make their exit from the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen:
| Location | Name | Vessels | Nerves >- | Above the Piriformis |
suprapiriform foramen | superior gluteal vessels | superior gluteal nerve >- | Below the Piriformis |
infrapiriform foramen | inferior gluteal vessels internal pudendal vessels |
inferior gluteal nerve Inferior gluteal nerve The inferior gluteal nerve is a nerve in the pelvis that innervates the gluteus maximus muscle.-Structure:The inferior gluteal nerve originates in the sacral plexus... pudendal nerve Pudendal nerve The pudendal nerve is a sensory and somatic nerve in the pelvic region which is a large branch of the sacral plexus that innervates the external genitalia of both sexes, as well as sphincters for the bladder and the rectum... sciatic nerve Sciatic nerve The sciatic nerve is a large nerve fiber in humans and other animals. It begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb... posterior femoral cutaneous nerve Nerve to obturator internus Nerve to obturator internus The nerve to obturator internus is a nerve that innervates the obturator internus and gemellus superior muscles.-Course:The nerve to obturator internus originates in the sacral plexus... Nerve to quadratus femoris Nerve to quadratus femoris The nerve to quadratus femoris is a nerve that provides innervation to the quadratus femoris and gemellus inferior muscles.-Course:The nerve to quadratus femoris is a sacral plexus nerve... |