GLUT^EAL REGION 227 



medial circumflex artery will be seen, whilst between the con- 

 tiguous margins of the quadratus femoris and the adductor 

 magnus the larger transverse terminal branch of the same artery 

 makes its appearance. 



Nervus Glutseus Inferior (Inferior G-lutseal Nerve). This 

 is the nerve of supply to the glutaeus maximus. It springs 

 from the sacral plexus, and enters the glutaeal region through 

 the lower part of the great sciatic foramen. During the 

 reflection of the glutaeus maximus it has been seen to break 

 up into numerous twigs which enter the deep surface of the 

 muscle. 



Arteria Glutaea Inferior (O.T. Sciatic). The inferior 

 glutaeal artery, a branch of the hypogastric artery (O.T. in- 

 ternal iliac), issues from the pelvis, through the great sciatic 

 foramen below the piriformis muscle, and proceeds distally, 

 with the sciatic nerve, under cover of the glutaeus maximus. 

 Finally, reaching the distal border of that muscle, it is continued 

 as a fine cutaneous twig to the posterior aspect of the thigh, in 

 company with the posterior cutaneous nerve. It gives off 

 numerous branches in the glutaeal region. Of these the large 

 muscular offsets to the glutaeus maximus, and the cutaneous 

 twigs that accompany the branches of the posterior cutaneous 

 nerve of the thigh which turn round the distal border of that 

 muscle, have been already studied. The following three 

 branches remain to be examined: (i) the coccygeal branch, 

 which passes medially between the ligamentum sacrotuber- 

 osum and ligamentum sacrospinosum to reach the integument 

 and fascia in the region of the coccyx ; a number of twigs 

 derived from this branch have been previously noticed piercing 

 the ligamentum sacrotuberosum and ending in the glutaeus 

 maximus; (2) a. (omitans n. ischiadici, a minute artery, which 

 runs distally on the sciatic nerve and finally penetrates into 

 its substance ; (3) the artery to the quadratus femoris, which 

 accompanies the nerve to that muscle; it will be found 

 lying on the hip bone under cover of the sciatic nerve. 



In a well -injected body the anastomosis between the 

 inferior glutaeal artery, the two terminal branches of the 

 medial circumflex artery, and the first perforating artery may 

 be made out. 



Nervus Cutaneus Femoris Posterior (O.T. Small Sciatic 

 Nerve). This cutaneous nerve arises from the sacral plexus 

 within the pelvis. After escaping through the great sciatic 

 i 15 a 



