Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025
08:16
Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies
Published on: October 6, 2022
6.4K
An Extremely Rare Case of a Sciatic Nerve Variant
Arvind Annamalai1, Joe Iwanaga1,2,3, Aaron S Dumont1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine.
The Kurume Medical Journal
|June 11, 2023
Summary
A rare anatomical variation of the sciatic nerve (SN) was found passing over the piriformis muscle (PM). This finding is crucial for understanding sciatica and piriformis syndrome, and for surgical safety.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- The sciatic nerve (SN) typically courses deep to the piriformis muscle (PM).
- Anatomical variations in the SN-PM relationship are clinically significant for conditions like sciatica and piriformis syndrome.
- Understanding these variations is vital for surgical procedures involving the hip and sacroiliac joints to prevent iatrogenic SN injury.
Observation:
- A cadaveric dissection revealed an unusual anatomical variant.
- The sciatic nerve was observed passing superior to the piriformis muscle.
Findings:
- An exceedingly rare anatomical variant of the sciatic nerve was identified.
- The SN traversed the superior border of the PM, deviating from the typical anatomical course.
Implications:
- This finding highlights the importance of recognizing rare anatomical variations of the SN.
- Awareness of such variants can improve diagnostic accuracy for SN entrapment syndromes.
- Knowledge of this SN-PM relationship is essential for surgeons to avoid nerve damage during hip and pelvic surgeries.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Spinal Nerves: Plexus I
1.1K
Nerve plexuses are networks of interlacing nerves that serve as communication hubs to distribute and organize nerve action across various body regions. The nerve plexuses are organized into the cervical plexus located in the neck region, brachial plexus in the shoulder area, lumbar plexus found in the lower back, sacral plexus situated in the pelvis, and coccygeal plexus located in the coccygeal region.
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
1.1K
01:23Spinal Nerves: Anatomy
3.3K
Spinal nerves are pivotal conduits in the nervous system, bridging the central nervous system (CNS) with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). These nerves enable a complex communication network between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, facilitating sensory input, motor output, and autonomic functions.
There are 31 bilateral pairs of spinal nerves, each emerging from the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina—openings between adjacent vertebrae. These nerves are...
There are 31 bilateral pairs of spinal nerves, each emerging from the spinal cord through the intervertebral foramina—openings between adjacent vertebrae. These nerves are...
3.3K
01:21Spinal Nerves: Plexus II
714
The plexuses of the lower body include the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses, which innervate the abdomen, pelvis, legs, and coccygeal region. These plexuses control the transmission of sensory information and coordinate motor functions of the lower body.
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...
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...
714
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
19
Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
19