THE SMALL SCIATIC NERVE. 



the calf, one branch accompanying the short saphenous vein and forming a com 

 munication with the external saphenous nerve. 



Fig. 212. POSTERIOR CUTANEOUS NERVES OF THE HIP AND THIGH. (Hirschfeld and Leveille.) | 

 ' a, gluteus maximus muscle, divided at its inferior part to show the small sciatic nerve ; b, b, fascia 

 lata ; c, d, part of the semitendinosus, biceps, and semimembranosus muscles exposed by the removal of 

 the fascia ; e, gasti'ocnemius ; /, coccyx ; g, internal saphenous vein ; 1, 2, 3, 3, posterior twigs of the 

 external cutaneous nerve of the thigh ; 4, small sciatic nerve ; 4', 4", its gluteal cutaneous branches ; 

 5, continuation of the small sciatic ; 5', 5', its inner and outer femoral cutaneous branches spreading on the 

 fascia of the thigh ; 6, 6, its terminal branches descending on the calf of the leg ; 7, internal and 

 external popliteal nerves, separating in the popliteal space ; 8, posterior divisions of the lower sacral and 

 coccygeal nerves ; 9, inferior pudendal nerve. 



Fig. 213. DEEP POSTERIOR NERVES OF THE HIP AND THIGH. (Hirschfeld and Leveille.) 



a, gluteus medius muscle ; b, gluteus maximus ; c, pyriformis ; d, placed on the great trochanter, 

 points to the tendon of the obturator internus ; e, upper part of the femoral head of the biceps ; /, semi- 

 tendinosus ; if, semimembranosus: h, gastrocnemius ; i, popliteal artery; 1, placed on the gluteus 

 minimus muscle, points to the superior gluteal nerve ; 2, 2, 2, ramifications of the inferior gluteal nerve ; 

 3, placed on the great sacro-sciatic ligament, points to the pudic nerve ; 3', its farther course ; 4, inferior 

 pudendal ; f>, placed on the upper divided part of the semitendinosus and biceps, points to the divided 

 small sciatic or posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh ; 6, great soiatic nerve ; 6', 6', some of its 

 muscular branches to the hamstrings ; 7, internal popliteal nerve ; 7', its muscular or sural branches ; 

 8, external popliteal nerve ; 8', its external cutaneous branch ; 9, communicating tibial ; 9', communi- 

 cat'.ng peruneal branch to the external saphenous nerve. 



Branches. (a) The gluteal cutaneous branches (mi. clunium mferiores) are two or 

 three in number, and bend upwards over the lower border of the gluteus maximus 

 muscle, to be distributed to the skin of the lower and outer part of the gluteal 

 region. 



