The superior gluteal nerve is a nerve

Nerve

A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...

 that originates in the pelvis

Pelvis

In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...

 and supplies the gluteus medius, the gluteus minimus, and the tensor fasciae latae

Tensor fasciae latae

The tensor fasciae latae or tensor fasciæ latæ is a muscle of the thigh. The English name for this muscle is the muscle that stretches the band on the side...

 muscles.

Structure

The superior gluteal nerve originates in the sacral plexus

Sacral plexus

-External links:*...

. It arises from the ventral divisions of the fourth and fifth lumbar and first sacral nerves.
It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen

Greater sciatic foramen

-Boundaries:It is bounded as follows:* anterolaterally by the greater sciatic notch of the illium* posteromedially by the sacrotuberous ligament* inferiorly by the sacrospinous ligament and the ischial spine* superiorly by the anterior sacroilliac ligament...

 above the piriformis, accompanied by the superior gluteal artery

Superior gluteal artery

The superior gluteal artery is the largest branch of the internal iliac artery, and appears to be the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel....

 and the superior gluteal vein.
It then accompanies the upper branch of the deep division of the superior gluteal artery

Superior gluteal artery

The superior gluteal artery is the largest branch of the internal iliac artery, and appears to be the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel....

 and ends in the gluteus minimus and tensor fasciae latae muscle.

Pathology

In normal gait, the small gluteal muscles on the stance side can stabilize the pelvis in the coronal plane. Weakness or paralysis of these muscles caused by a damaged superior gluteal nerve can result in a weak abduction in the affected hip joint.
This gait disturbance is known as Trendelenburg gait

Trendelenburg gait

The Trendelenburg gait pattern is an abnormal gait caused by weakness of the abductor muscles of the lower limb, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. People with a lesion of superior gluteal nerve have weakness of abducting the thigh at the hip...

. In a positive Trendelenburg's sign

Trendelenburg's sign

Trendelenburg's sign is found in people with weak or paralyzed abductor muscles of the hip, namely gluteus medius and minimus. It is named after the German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg....

 the pelvis sags toward the normal unsupported side (the swing leg). The opposite, when the pelvis is elevated on the swing side, is known as Duchenne

Duchenne

Duchenne may refer to:*Duchenne de Boulogne , a French physician who pioneered modern neurology*Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe recessive X-chromosome linked form of muscular dystrophy...

 limp. Bilateral loss of the small gluteal muscles results in a waddling gait

Myopathic gait

Myopathic gait is a form of gait abnormality.The "waddling" is due to the weakness of the proximal muscles of the pelvic girdle.The patient uses circumduction to compensate for gluteal weakness....

.