Areas - Sciatic Foramina

Question 1

Where are the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments formed?

Answer 1

Sacrotuberous - sacrum to ischial tuberosities

Sacrospinous - sacrum to ischial spine

Question 2

Where is the greater sciatic forament?

Answer 2

Located between the greater sciatic notch and the sacrospinous ligament.

Question 3

What are the contents of the greater sciatic foramen?

Answer 3

It is divided into two parts by the piriform muscle.

1) Suprapiriform foramen -
i) superior gluteal artery and vein
ii) superior gluteal nerve
2) Infrapiriform foramen -
i) Sciatic nerve (although it may also pass through piriform muscle)
ii) Pudendal nerve
iii) Inferior gluteal artery, vein and nerve
iv) Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
v) Nerve to obturator internus
vi) Nerve to quadratus femoris

Question 4

Where is the lesser sciatic foramen formed?

Answer 4

Formed between the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligament.

Forms a communication between the perineum and gluteal region.

Question 5

Contents of the lesser sciatic foramen?

Answer 5

i) internal pudendal artery and vein
ii) pudendal nerve - exits via the greater sciatic foramen and then re-enters via the lesser sciatic foramen
iii) obturator internus tendon
iv) nerve to obturator internus