Nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus
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At the time the article was created Chamath Ariyasinghe had no recorded disclosures.
View Chamath Ariyasinghe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
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View Craig Hacking's current disclosures- Nerve supplying quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus
The nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus is formed from the anterior (ventral) divisions of the L4, L5 and S1 nerve roots of the sacral plexus. The nerve supplies the quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles as well as providing an articular branch to the hip joint.
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Gross anatomy
Origin
The nerve to quadratus femoris arises from the anterior divisions of the sacral plexus. It is formed from the L4-S1 nerve roots and exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis muscle and deep to the sciatic nerve. The nerve to quadratus femoris, unlike other nerves in the gluteal regions, lies anterior to the plane of the deep muscles of the gluteal region.
Course
It descends along the ischium and passes posterior to the hip joint, to which it sends an articular sensory branch. In this position the nerve lies deep to the tendon of the obturator internus muscle and gemelli which thus separate it from the overlying sciatic nerve.
Branches
The nerve continues downwards to pierce the deep (anterior) surface of the quadratus femoris muscle. The nerve also supplies the inferior gemellus muscle.
Relations
The nerve to quadratus femoris is separated from the sciatic nerve by the obturator internus and gemelli muscles.
Variant anatomy
It has been noted in cadaveric studies that the nerve to quadratus femoris and obturator internus frequently arises from a common root and communication between these two nerves has been regularly observed. The inferior gemellus muscle has been recorded to occasionally receive additional innervation by branches of the nerve to obturator internus.
References
- 1. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. FAAA KLMMPFIACFRSM, Dalley AF, Agur AM. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, Sixth Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1605476528. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Drake R, Vogl AW, Mitchell AWM. Gray's Anatomy for Students. Churchill Livingstone Title. (2009) ISBN:1437720552. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Aung HH, Sakamoto H, Akita K et-al. Anatomical study of the obturator internus, gemelli and quadratus femoris muscles with special reference to their innervation. Anat. Rec. 2001;263 (1): 41-52. Pubmed citation
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