Arterial supply to the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region
Effrossyni Georgakis1, Roger Soames
1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The arterial supply to the sciatic nerve was investigated in 20 human lower limbs (10 right, 10 left) from 20 cadavers (14 females, aged 84 +/- 9.6 years, range 66-95 years: 6 males, aged 80 +/- 8.2 years, range 70-90 years). In all limbs examined at least 1 sciatic artery could be identified supplying the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region. In total 28 sciatic arteries were identified, of which 14 arose from the medial circumflex femoral artery, 11 from the inferior gluteal artery, 2 from the first perforating artery, and 1 from the internal pudendal artery. In 5 limbs, 2 sciatic arteries were observed, being independent branches from the medial circumflex femoral and inferior gluteal arteries in 4 limbs and separate branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery in 1 limb. In 1 limb, 4 sciatic arteries were observed: 1 from the inferior gluteal artery, 2 from the medial circumflex femoral artery, and 1 from the first perforating artery. In the remaining 14 limbs a single sciatic artery was observed, which in one case arose from the internal pudendal artery, a previously unreported observation.
Related Concept Videos
Arteries of Lower Limbs
Spinal Nerves: Plexus II
The Lumbar Plexus
The lumbar plexus is situated within the lumbar region of the back and is primarily formed by the first four lumbar spinal nerves (L1 to L4). This plexus extends its branches into several nerves, including the...
Abdominal Aorta
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
Muscles that Move the Thigh
Three other significant muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus originates from the posterior surface of the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and the thoracolumbar fascia...
Veins of Lower Limbs
Formed by the union of the medial and lateral plantar veins, the posterior tibial vein, rising through the calf muscle, assimilates the fibular vein. The anterior tibial vein, a superior extension of the foot's dorsalis pedis vein, merges with the posterior tibial vein at the knee,...
Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney
Bloody Supply to the Kidneys:
The kidneys receive their blood supply from the renal arteries, which branch off from the abdominal aorta—the main artery supplying the abdomen and lower body. The renal arteries enter the kidneys at the hilum, a notch on the medial side of each...


