Abstract

ANATOMICAL VARIATIONS IN DIVISION OF SCIATIC NERVE- A CADAVERIC CASE STUDY

Dr. Swarup P. Kulkarni* and Dr. Swarupa S. Mane

ABSTRACT

Lower extremity consists of many important nerves. One of them is the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve originates from the sacral plexus and comes in the gluteal region below the piriformis muscle. Usually descends downwards from the posterior aspect of the thigh through hamstring muscles. At the superior angle of the popliteal fossa, it usually gets divided into common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve. This bifurcation point or region of the sciatic nerve may vary. It may present in the gluteal region itself below the piriformis muscle or in the pelvis region or tibial nerve comes below the piriformis muscle and the common peroneal nerve pierces the piriformis muscle and enters the gluteal region and also at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa. In this cadaveric case study, the sciatic nerve was found divided into the tibial and the common peroneal nerves below the piriformis muscle in the gluteal region The same arrangement of sciatic nerve was present in right and left extremities. So, this information can be useful for the clinicians, surgeons. These facts can be useful in intramuscular injections, sciatic nerve block, hip region surgeries etc.

Keywords: Sciatic nerve, division of sciatic nerve, Piriformis muscle.