Greater sciatic foramen

Updated on Nov 16, 2023

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Dorlands /Elsevier sciatic foramen FMA 17031		TA A03.6.03.008

Latin foramen ischiadicum majus

The greater sciatic foramen is an opening (foramen) at the back of the 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.

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 sacroilliac 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:

The foramen contains:

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

Greater sciatic foramen Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Structure

Function

References