Sciatic foramina

Openings in the human pelvis

Anatomy

The sciatic foramina are two openings located in the pelvis that allow for the passage of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. These foramina are formed by the sacrospinous ligament and the sacrotuberous ligament and are divided into the greater sciatic foramen and the lesser sciatic foramen.

Greater Sciatic Foramen

The greater sciatic foramen is a large opening in the pelvis that allows for the passage of several important structures. It is bounded by the greater sciatic notch of the ilium, the sacrospinous ligament, and the sacrotuberous ligament. The structures passing through the greater sciatic foramen include the piriformis muscle, the sciatic nerve, the superior gluteal artery, the inferior gluteal artery, and the pudendal nerve.

Lesser Sciatic Foramen

The lesser sciatic foramen is a smaller opening located below the greater sciatic foramen. It is bounded by the lesser sciatic notch of the ischium, the sacrospinous ligament, and the sacrotuberous ligament. The structures passing through the lesser sciatic foramen include the tendon of the obturator internus muscle, the internal pudendal artery, and the pudendal nerve.

Clinical Significance

The sciatic foramina are clinically significant because they are pathways for important neurovascular structures. Compression or injury to the structures passing through these foramina can lead to conditions such as sciatica, which is characterized by pain radiating along the path of the sciatic nerve.

Related Pages

• Pelvis
• Sciatic nerve
• Sacrospinous ligament
• Sacrotuberous ligament
• Piriformis muscle
• Obturator internus muscle
• Superior gluteal artery
• Inferior gluteal artery
• Pudendal nerve