THE GLUTEAL REGION 



417 



The Superior Gluteal Nerve (L. 4, 5, S. i) accompanies the 

 artery, and supplies the glutaeus medius and minimus and the 

 tensor fasciae latae. 



Several important structures leave the pelvis through the 

 greater sciatic foramen at the lower border of the piriformis. 

 They include (i) the sciatic nerve, (2) the posterior cutaneous 

 (small sciatic) nerve of the thigh, (3) the pudendal nerve, (4) 



Superior gluteal artery 

 Superficial division i 



Superior branch of deep division 

 Inferior branch of deep division 



Inferior 

 gluteal n. 

 Internal 

 pudendal a. "~ 

 Nerve to obtu- 

 rator internus " 



Sacro-tuberous 

 ligament 



Tuber ischii 



Biceps femoris 

 Semitendinosus 



Glutaeus'minimus 



Tensor fasciae latae 



Glutaeus medius 

 Sciatic n. 

 Superior gemellus 



irator internus tendon 



Inferior gemellus 

 Ascending branch of 

 medial circumflex a. 



Greater trochanter 



Quadratus femoris 

 Posterior cutaneous n. of thigh 

 Insertion of glutaeus maximus 



FIG. 123. The Gluteal Region. The glutaeus maximus has been divided, and 

 the glutaeus medius has been removed from its origin and turned down. 



the nerve to obturator internus, (5) the inferior gluteal nerve, 

 (6) the inferior gluteal (sciatic) vessels, and (7) the internal 

 pudendal vessels. 



The pudendal nerve, internal pudendal vessels, and the 

 nerve to obturator internus cross the spine of the ischium and 

 pass through the lesser sciatic foramen to enter the ischio-rectal 

 fossa (p. 373). The vessels may be injured in stab wounds, and 

 can be exposed by an incision parallel to the fibres of the glutaeus 

 maximus, and cutting the line joining the posterior superior 



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