Perforating cutaneous nerve

The perforating cutaneous nerve is a cutaneous nerve of the sacral plexus that provides sensory innervation to the skin of the buttocks.^[2]

Perforating cutaneous nerve
Plan of sacral and pudendal plexuses.
Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views. (Perforating cutaneous nerve not labeled, but region visible.)
Details
From	S2-S3,[1] sacral plexus
Innervates	Gluteal sulcus
Identifiers
Latin	nervus cutaneus perforans
TA98	A14.2.07.036
TA2	6546
FMA	19040
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Structure

Origin

The perforating cutaneous nerve typically^[3] arises from the posterior divisions of^[4] anterior rami of sacral spinal nerves S2 and S3 of the sacral plexus.^[3]

Course

It pierces the inferior part of the sacrotuberous ligament,^[4] then passes along the inferior border of the gluteus maximus muscle.^[4][2]

Distribution

The perforating cutaneous nerve innervates the skin that overlies the inferomedial portion of gluteus maximus muscle.^[3]

Variation

Origin

The perforating cutaneous nerve may arise from the pudendal nerve. It is occasionally united with the pudendal nerve at its origin.^[3]

It may be absent (this is the case in 36% of individuals) in which case it is replaced by a branch from either the posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh or from the anterior rami of either S3-S4 or S4-S5.^[3]

Course

Instead of piercing the sacrotuberous ligament, the perforating cutaneous may instead run with the pudendal nerve, or pass in between the sacrotuberous ligament and the gluteus maximus muscle.^[3]

See also

• Sacral plexus

References

1. Adam Mitchell; Drake, Richard; Gray, Henry David; Wayne Vogl (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. p. 423. ISBN 0-443-06612-4.
2. Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 310. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
3. Apaydin, Nihal (2015). "Chapter 47 - Variations of the Lumbar and Sacral Plexuses and Their Branches". Nerves and Nerve Injuries (1: History, Embryology, Anatomy, Imaging, and Diagnostics ed.). Academic Press. p. 635. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00049-4. ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0.
4. Mirjalili, S. Ali (2015). "Chapter 46 - Anatomy of the Sacral Plexus L4-S4". Nerves and Nerve Injuries. Vol. 1: History, Embryology, Anatomy, Imaging, and Diagnostics. Academic Press. p. 626. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00048-2. ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0.

External links