The perforating cutaneous nerve is a
cutaneous nerve that supplies
skin over the
gluteus maximus muscle.
Structure
The perforating cutaneous nerve arises from the
ventral rami of
sacral spinal nerve 2 and
sacral spinel nerve 3 of the
sacral plexus.
It pierces the lower part of the
sacrotuberous ligament
The sacrotuberous ligament (great or posterior sacrosciatic 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.
Structure
It runs from the sacrum (the lower ...
.
It winds around the inferior border of the
gluteus maximus muscle.
Variation
The perforating cutaneous nerve may arise from the
pudendal nerve.
It may be absent.
It is estimated to be absent in up to a third of people. It may be replaced by a branch from the
posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh.
It may also be replaced by a branch from the third and fourth, or fourth and fifth, sacral nerves.
The perforating cutaneous may pass around the
sacrotuberous ligament
The sacrotuberous ligament (great or posterior sacrosciatic 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.
Structure
It runs from the sacrum (the lower ...
(beneath
gluteus maximus muscle) rather than piercing it.
Function
The perforating cutaneous nerve supplies the
skin covering the medial and lower parts of
gluteus maximus
The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It is the largest and outermost of the three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. It is the single largest muscle in the human ...
.
See also
*
Sacral plexus
References
External links
Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso
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