Higher division of sciatic nerve and its clinical importance

Abstract

The Sciatic Nerve after originating from sacral plexus leaves the pelvis through the lower part of greater sciatic foramen into the gluteal region and divides into two components at any level from its origin to its usual division inside the upper part of popliteal fossa. The Present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy Government Medical College Srinagar to study the variations in the level of division of the sciatic nerve during usual dissection for academic purposes. Both lower limbs of a middle aged formalin preserved Indian male cadaver were dissected out for routine teaching and simultaneously recording observations. It was observed that the left sided sciatic nerve divided into its two components inside the pelvis. The tibial and common peroneal nerves after leaving through greater sciatic foramen sandwiched piriformis muscle in the gluteal region. The common peroneal nerve passed above the piriformis where as the tibial nerve passed inferior to this muscle. The sciatic nerve on the other side of this cadaver followed the normal anatomical course. The higher division of sciatic nerve inside the pelvis though rare is of great academic and clinical significance in Neurology, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Sports medicine and physiotherapy. The knowledge of this variation is also important for paramedics who frequently give intramuscular injections into the gluteal region.