Greater sciatic foramen
The greater sciatic foramen is an opening (foramen) in the posterior human pelvis. It is formed by the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments. The piriformis muscle passes through the foramen and occupies most of its volume. The greater sciatic foramen is wider in women than in men.
Greater sciatic foramen | |
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The pelvis showing the greater sciatic foramen in red. | |
Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | foramen ischiadicum majus |
TA98 | A03.6.03.008 |
TA2 | 1316 |
FMA | 17031 |
Anatomical terminology |
Structure
It is bounded as follows:
- anterolaterally by the greater sciatic notch of the ilium
- posteromedially by the sacrotuberous ligament
- inferiorly by the sacrospinous ligament and the ischial spine
- superiorly by the anterior sacroiliac ligament
Function
The piriformis, which exits the pelvis through the foramen, occupies most of its volume.
The following structures also exit the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen:
Location | Name | Vessels | Nerves |
Above the Piriformis | suprapiriform foramen[1] | superior gluteal vessels | superior gluteal nerve |
Below the Piriformis | infrapiriform foramen[1] | inferior gluteal vessels internal pudendal vessels | inferior gluteal nerve pudendal nerve sciatic nerve posterior femoral cutaneous nerve Nerve to obturator internus Nerve to quadratus femoris |
The foramen contains:[2]
- 7 nerves:
- Sciatic Nerve:
- Superior Gluteal Nerve
- Inferior Gluteal Nerve
- Pudendal Nerve
- Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve
- Nerve to Quadratus Femoris
- Nerve to Obturator Internus
- 3 Vessel Sets:
- Superior Gluteal Artery & Vein
- Inferior Gluteal Artery & Vein
- Internal Pudendal Artery & Vein
- 1 Muscle:
- Piriformis
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 309 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Yokochi, Chihiro; Rohen, Johannes W. (2006). Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 482. ISBN 978-0-7817-9013-0.
- "Greater Sciatic Foramen - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics". wheelessonline.com. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
External links
- Anatomy photo:41:os-0109 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Greater_sciatic_foramen at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program
- glutealregion at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (glutealart, glutealner)
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