LESSER ISCHIATIC NERVE. 421 



The inferior passes obliquely downwards and forwards between the 

 gluteus medius and minimus, distributing numerous filaments to both, 

 and terminates in the tensor vaginse femoris muscle. 



The Internal pudic nerve arises from the lower part of the sacral 

 plexus, passes out of the pelvis through the great sacro-ischiatic 

 foramen below the pyriformis muscle, and takes the course of the 

 internal pudic artery. While situated beneath the obturator fascia 

 it lies below that vessel and divides into a superior and an inferior 

 branch. The superior nerve ascends upon the posterior surface of 

 the ramus of the ischium, pierces the deep perineal fascia and ac- 

 companies the arteria dorsalis penis to the glans to which it is dis- 

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

 branch which runs along the side of the organ, and with its fellow 

 of the opposite side supplies the integument of the upper two-thirds 

 of the penis and of the prepuce. The inferior or perineal nerve 

 pursues the course of the internal pudic artery in the perineum and 

 sends off three principal branches, 1, an external perineal nerve 

 which ascends upon the outer side of the crus penis, and supplies 

 the scrotum ; 2, a superficial perineal nerve 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 ; 3, 

 the nerve of the bulb, which sends twigs to the sphincter ani, to the 

 transversus perinei, and accelerator urinae, and terminates by ramify- 

 ing 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 parts in the perineum and the vulva. 



The Lesser iscliiatic 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 inferior gluteal are distributed to the gluteus maximus ; 

 some ascending in the substance of that muscle to its upper border, 

 and others descending. The cutaneous branches are two in number, 

 the perineal cutaneous and the middle posterior cutaneous. The 

 perineal cutaneous nerve (pudendalis longus inferior ; Soem.) 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 di- 

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

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

 external branch to its outer side, and both terminating in the integu- 

 ment of the under border of the penis. The middle posterior cuta- 

 neous 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 posterior 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 upon the 

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



