476 GREAT ISCHIATIC NERVE. 



The Superior nerve (dorsalis penis) ascends upon the posterior 

 surface of the raraus of the ischium, pierces the deep perineal fascia 

 and accompanies the arteria dorsalis penis to the glans, to which it is 

 distributed. At the root of the penis this nerve gives off a cutaneous 

 branch which runs along the side of the organ, gives filaments to the 

 corpus cavernosum, and with its fellow of the opposite side supplies 

 the integument of the upper two-thirds of the penis and prepuce. 



The Inferior or perineal nerve pursues the course of the internal 

 pudic artery in the perineum and sends off three principal branches, 

 an external perineal branch, which ascends upon the outer side of the 

 cms penis, and supplies the scrotum ; a superficial perineal branch, 

 which accompanies the artery of that name and distributes filaments 

 to the scrotum, to the integument of the under part of the penis and 

 to the prepuce ; and, thirdly, the bulbo-urethral branch, which sends 

 twigs to the sphincter ani, transversus perinei, and accelerator urinae, 

 and terminates by ramifying in the corpus spongiosum. 



In the female the internal pudic nerve is distributed to the parts 

 analogous to those of the male. The superior branch supplies the 

 clitoris ; and the inferior the vulva and parts in the perineum. 



The LESSER ISCHIATIC NERVE passes out of the pelvis through the 

 great sacro-ischiatic foramen below the pyriformis muscle, and divides 

 into muscular and cutaneous branches. The muscular branches, infe- 

 rior gluteaf, are distributed to the gluteus maximus ; some ascending 

 in the substance of that muscle to its upper border, and others de- 

 scending. The cutaneous branches are, several ascending filaments to 

 the integument over the gluteus maximus (n. cutanei clunium inferio- 

 res), perineal cutaneous, and middle posterior cutaneous. 



The Perineal cutaneous nerve (pudendalis longus inferior), curves 

 around the tuberosity of the ischium and ascends in a direction 

 parallel to the ramus of the ischium and os pubis to the scrotum, 

 where it communicates with the superficial perineal nerve, and divides 

 into an internal and an external branch. The internal branch passes 

 down upon the inner side of the testis to the scrotum ; the external 

 branch to its outer side, and both terminate in the integument of 

 the under border of the penis. 



The Middle posterior cutaneous nerve crosses the tuberosity of the 

 ischium and pierces the deep fascia at the lower border of the gluteus 

 maximus. It then passes downwards along the middle of the poste- 

 rior aspect of the thigh and of the popliteal region, and is distributed 

 to the integument as far as the middle of the calf of the leg. In its 

 course the nerve gives off several cutaneous branches to the integument 

 of the inner and outer side of the thigh, and in the popliteal region a 

 communicating branch which pierces the fascia of the leg and unites 

 with the external saphenous nerve. 



The GREAT ISCHIATIC NERVE is the largest nervous cord in the 

 body ; it is formed by the sacral plexus, or rather is a prolongation of 



