Sciatic nerve
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| Nerve: Sciatic nerve | |
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| Left gluteal region, showing surface markings for arteries and sciatic nerve. | |
| Latin | nervus ischiadicus |
| Gray's | subject #213 960 |
| Innervates | Lateral rotator group (except Piriformis and Quadratus femoris), Posterior compartment of thigh |
| From | lumbar plexus and sacral plexus: L4-S3 |
| To | tibial nerve, common fibular nerve |
| Dorlands / Elsevier | n_05/12566006 |
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Overview
The sciatic nerve (also known as the ischiatic nerve) is a large nerve that starts in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb. It is the longest and largest single nerve in the body.
The sciatic supplies nearly the whole of the skin of the leg, the muscles of the back of the thigh, and those of the leg and foot.
Anatomical course
The nerve enters the lower limb by exiting the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, below the Piriformis muscle.
It descends midway in the greater trochanter of the femur and the tuberosity of the ischium, and along the back of the thigh to about its lower third, where it divides into two large branches, the tibial and common peroneal nerves. This division may take place at any point between the sacral plexus and the lower third of the thigh. When it occurs at the plexus, the common peroneal nerve usually pierces the Piriformis muscles.
In the upper part of its course, the nerve rests upon the posterior surface of the ischium, the nerve to the Quadratus femoris, the Obturator internus and Gemelli; it is accompanied by the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the inferior gluteal artery, and is covered by the Gluteus maximus.
Lower down, it lies upon the Adductor magnus, and is crossed obliquely by the long head of the Biceps femoris.
Branches
The nerve gives off articular and muscular branches.
- The articular branches (rami articulares) arise from the upper part of the nerve and supply the hip-joint, perforating the posterior part of its capsule; they are sometimes derived from the sacral plexus.
- The muscular branches (rami musculares) are distributed to the following muscles of the lower limb: Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, and Adductor magnus. The nerve to the short head of the Biceps femoris comes from the common peroneal part of the sciatic, while the other muscular branches arise from the tibial portion, as may be seen in those cases where there is a high division of the sciatic nerve.
The muscular branch eventually gives off the tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve, which innervates the muscles of the (lower) leg. The tibial nerve goes on to innervate all muscles of the foot except the extensor digitorum brevis (peroneal nerve).
Pathology
Pain caused by a compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve by a problem in the lower back is called sciatica. Common causes of sciatica include the following low back conditions: spinal disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.
Counter Pressure Relief for Sciatica
Applying counter pressure to location of sciatic nerve pain will provide temporary relief. [1] This method may be utilized by applying 2-minutes of pressure to sciatic, using a solid object in the area of pain (ex. a fist or tennis ball) pressed against another solid surface (ex. wall).
Additional images
 Structures surrounding right hip-joint. |
 Plan of sacral and pudendal plexuses. |
 Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view. |
Internal links
External links
- Duke Orthopedics sciatic_nerve
- MedlinePlus Image 19503
- Norman/Georgetown pelvis (pelvicnerves)
- Norman/Georgetown glutealregion (glutealner)
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
WikiDoc Research Resources for Sciatic nerve | |
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| Articles on Sciatic nerve | Most recent articles on Sciatic nerve • Most cited articles on Sciatic nerve • Review articles on Sciatic nerve • Articles on Sciatic nerve in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ |
| Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Sciatic nerve | Powerpoint slides on Sciatic nerve • Images of Sciatic nerve • Photos of Sciatic nerve • Podcasts & MP3s on Sciatic nerve • Videos on Sciatic nerve |
| Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Sciatic nerve | Cochrane Collaboration on Sciatic nerve • Bandolier on Sciatic nerve • TRIP on Sciatic nerve |
| Cost Effectiveness of Sciatic nerve | Cost Effectiveness of Sciatic nerve |
| Clinical Trials Involving Sciatic nerve | Ongoing Trials on Sciatic nerve at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Sciatic nerve • Clinical Trials on Sciatic nerve at Google |
| Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Sciatic nerve | US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Sciatic nerve • NICE Guidance on Sciatic nerve • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Sciatic nerve • CDC on Sciatic nerve |
| Textbook Information on Sciatic nerve | Books and Textbook Information on Sciatic nerve |
| Pharmacology Resources on Sciatic nerve | Dosing of Sciatic nerve • Drug interactions with Sciatic nerve • Side effects of Sciatic nerve • Allergic reactions to Sciatic nerve • Overdose information on Sciatic nerve • Carcinogenicity information on Sciatic nerve • Sciatic nerve in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Sciatic nerve • |
| Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Sciatic nerve | Genetics of Sciatic nerve • Pharmacogenomics of Sciatic nerve • Proteomics of Sciatic nerve |
| Newstories on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve in the news • Be alerted to news on Sciatic nerve • News trends on Sciatic nerve |
| Commentary on Sciatic nerve | Blogs on Sciatic nerve |
| Patient Resources on Sciatic nerve | Patient resources on Sciatic nerve • Discussion groups on Sciatic nerve • Patient Handouts on Sciatic nerve • Directions to Hospitals Treating Sciatic nerve • Risk calculators and risk factors for Sciatic nerve |
| Healthcare Provider Resources on Sciatic nerve | Symptoms of Sciatic nerve • Causes & Risk Factors for Sciatic nerve • Diagnostic studies for Sciatic nerve • Treatment of Sciatic nerve |
| Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Sciatic nerve | CME Programs on Sciatic nerve |
| International Resources on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve en Espanol • Sciatic nerve en Francais |
| Business Resources on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve in the Marketplace • Patents on Sciatic nerve |
| Informatics Resources on Sciatic nerve | List of terms related to Sciatic nerve |
WikiDoc Research Resources for Sciatic nerve | |
|---|---|
| Articles on Sciatic nerve | Most recent articles on Sciatic nerve • Most cited articles on Sciatic nerve • Review articles on Sciatic nerve • Articles on Sciatic nerve in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ |
| Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Sciatic nerve | Powerpoint slides on Sciatic nerve • Images of Sciatic nerve • Photos of Sciatic nerve • Podcasts & MP3s on Sciatic nerve • Videos on Sciatic nerve |
| Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Sciatic nerve | Cochrane Collaboration on Sciatic nerve • Bandolier on Sciatic nerve • TRIP on Sciatic nerve |
| Cost Effectiveness of Sciatic nerve | Cost Effectiveness of Sciatic nerve |
| Clinical Trials Involving Sciatic nerve | Ongoing Trials on Sciatic nerve at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Sciatic nerve • Clinical Trials on Sciatic nerve at Google |
| Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Sciatic nerve | US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Sciatic nerve • NICE Guidance on Sciatic nerve • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Sciatic nerve • CDC on Sciatic nerve |
| Textbook Information on Sciatic nerve | Books and Textbook Information on Sciatic nerve |
| Pharmacology Resources on Sciatic nerve | Dosing of Sciatic nerve • Drug interactions with Sciatic nerve • Side effects of Sciatic nerve • Allergic reactions to Sciatic nerve • Overdose information on Sciatic nerve • Carcinogenicity information on Sciatic nerve • Sciatic nerve in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Sciatic nerve • |
| Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Sciatic nerve | Genetics of Sciatic nerve • Pharmacogenomics of Sciatic nerve • Proteomics of Sciatic nerve |
| Newstories on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve in the news • Be alerted to news on Sciatic nerve • News trends on Sciatic nerve |
| Commentary on Sciatic nerve | Blogs on Sciatic nerve |
| Patient Resources on Sciatic nerve | Patient resources on Sciatic nerve • Discussion groups on Sciatic nerve • Patient Handouts on Sciatic nerve • Directions to Hospitals Treating Sciatic nerve • Risk calculators and risk factors for Sciatic nerve |
| Healthcare Provider Resources on Sciatic nerve | Symptoms of Sciatic nerve • Causes & Risk Factors for Sciatic nerve • Diagnostic studies for Sciatic nerve • Treatment of Sciatic nerve |
| Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Sciatic nerve | CME Programs on Sciatic nerve |
| International Resources on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve en Espanol • Sciatic nerve en Francais |
| Business Resources on Sciatic nerve | Sciatic nerve in the Marketplace • Patents on Sciatic nerve |
| Informatics Resources on Sciatic nerve | List of terms related to Sciatic nerve |
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
