Variations in the Course of the Inferior Gluteal Nerve and Artery: A Case Report and Literature Review

Jun Yan, Masaki Takechi, Jiro Hitomi

Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Iwate, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ss.2013.410084                

Abstract

Variations in the course of the inferior gluteal nerve and artery were observed in Japanese cases (4/94 sides). In these variation cases, the inferior gluteal nerve exited the pelvis from the upper edge of the piriformis (suprapiriformis foramen) in 4/4 sides (4.26%). In 2/4 sides (2.13%), the normal inferior gluteal artery was not observed, except that a fine artery exited the pelvis from the inferior piriformis foramen to form an “arch” with the superior gluteal artery under the gluteal maximus in 1/4 side. Moreover, in 1/4 side, a twig of the internal pudendal artery exited pelvis from inferior piriformis foramen and distributed to the surrounding tissues. The present observations of the inferior gluteal nerve and artery course are very important and useful for surgeons and nurses.

Keywords

Inferior Gluteal Nerve; Inferior Gluteal Artery; Suprapiriformis Foramen; Variation; Human

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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