The nerve to obturator internus, also known as the obturator internus nerve, is a
nerve that innervates the
obturator internus and
gemellus superior muscles.
Structure
The nerve to obturator internus originates in the
lumbosacral plexus
The anterior divisions of the lumbar nerves, sacral nerve
A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on ...
.
It arises from the ventral divisions of the fifth
lumbar and first and second
sacral nerves
A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the ...
.
It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen below the
piriformis
The piriformis muscle () is a flat, pyramidally-shaped muscle in the gluteal region of the lower limbs. It is one of the six muscles in the lateral rotator group.
The piriformis muscle has its origin upon the front surface of the sacrum, and in ...
muscle, and gives off the branch to the
gemellus superior, which enters the upper part of the posterior surface of the muscle.
It then crosses the
ischial spine
The ischial spine is part of the posterior border of the body of the ischium bone of the pelvis. It is a thin and pointed triangular eminence, more or less elongated in different subjects.
Structure
The pudendal nerve travels close to the ischia ...
, re-enters the pelvis through the
lesser sciatic foramen
The lesser sciatic foramen is an opening (foramen) between the pelvis and the back of the thigh. The foramen is formed by the sacrotuberous ligament which runs between the sacrum and the ischial tuberosity and the sacrospinous ligament which runs ...
, and pierces the pelvic surface of the
obturator internus.
See also
*
Obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.
Structure
The o ...
*
Nerve to quadratus femoris
The nerve to quadratus femoris is a nerve that provides innervation to the quadratus femoris muscle and gemellus inferior muscle.
Structure
The nerve to quadratus femoris is a sacral plexus nerve. It arises from the ventral divisions of the f ...
References
Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso
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