SACRAL PLEXUS

SACRAL PLEXUS


SACRAL PLEXUS

  • Sacral plexus (L4-S4) – forms anterior to piriformis muscle.
  • Lies immediately inferior to the lumbar plexus.
  • Formed by the ventral (anterior) rami of spinal nerves L4, L5, and S1 through S4.

STRUCTURE:

  • Formed from ventral rami of L4-S4; Contribution of L4-L5 is from Lumbosacral trunk.
  • The nerves forming the sacral plexus converge towards the lower part of the greater sciatic foramen and unite to form a flattened band.
  • The branches of the sacral plexus arise from anterior and posterior surfaces of this flattened band.
  • Branches innervating the pelvis and perineum remain in the pelvis.
  • Branches innervating the lower limb exit through greater sciatic foramen.
BRANCHES OF THE SACRAL PLEXUS

6 Branches Prior to Division of Sacral Roots

(Mnemonic: All of these start with the letter “P”) 

1. S1,S2: Nerve to Piriformis

2. S2, S3: Perforating cutaneous nerve – to medial part of buttock

3. S1,S2,S3: Posterior femoral cutaenous nerve – To buttock and uppermost medial and posterior surfaces of thigh

4. S2,S3,S4: Pudendal nerve – leaves the pelvis through greater sciatic foramen but re-enters through lesser sciatic foramen and enters the pudendal or alcock’s canal (a fascial canal formed by splitting of obturator fascia on lateral wall of ischiorectal fossa).

  • Inferior rectal nerve: Perianal skin and External anal sphincter
  • Dorsal nerve of penis or clitoris: Accompanies dorsal artery of penis and clitoris and supplies skin of penis or clitoris and labia majora.
  • Perineal nerve: Superficial and Deep perineal muscles and External urethral sphincter
  • Parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves (nervi erigentes) – Ascend to join inferior hypogastric plexus and together supply pelvic viscera.

5. S4: Perineal branch of Pudendal nerve

  • Sacral plexus, Nervi erigentes (S2,3,4) & pudenal nerve are involved in process of erection of penis.
  Anterior Division Posterior Division
L4-S1 
  • Nerve to Quadratus femoris and Inferior gemellus
Superior gluteal nerve 

  • Gluteus minimus
  • Gluteus medius
  • Tensor fascia lata
L5-S2 
  • Nerve to Obturator internus and Superior gemellus
Inferior gluteal nerve 

  • Gluteus maximus
L4-S2 (All except S3 and S4)   Common peroneal (fibular) portion of Sciatic nerve 

  • Leaves popliteal fossa and turns around the lateral aspect of neck of fibula (dangerous position) and divides into superficial peroneal and deep peroneal (anterior tibial) nerve.
  • Superficial peroneal nerve supplies lateral compartment of leg.

– Peroneal muscules

  • Deep peroneal nerve supplies anterior compartment of leg.

– Anterior tibialis

– Toe extensors

L4-S3 (All except S4) Tibial portion of sciatic nerve 

  • Descends through popliteal fossa to the posterior compartment of leg.

– Popliteus

– Ankle plantar flexors

– Tibialis posterior

  • Passes behind medial malleolus (deep to flexor retinaculum) to reach sole of foot through medial and lateral plantar nerves.

– Foot intrinsic muscles

– Toe flexors

 

Nerve Spinal Components Innervation
Superior gluteal L4, L5, S1
  • Abductor muscles of thigh (gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae)
Inferior gluteal L5-52
  • Extensor muscle of hip joint (gluteus maximus)
Nerve to piriformis S1, 52
  • Abductor and rotator of thigh (piriformis)
Nerve to quadratus

lemon’s

L4, L5, S1
  • Rotators of thigh (gemellus inferior, quadratus femoris)
Nerve to internal

obturator

L5-S2
  • Rotators of thigh (gemellus superior, internal obturator)
Perforating cutaneous S2, S3
  • Skin over lower medial surface of buttock
Posterior cutaneous

femoral

S1 -S3
  • Skin over lower lateral surface of buttock, anal region, upper posterior surface of thigh, upper aspect of calf, scrotum in male and labia majora in female
Sciatic L4-S3
  • Composed of two nerves (tibial and common fibular); splits into two portions at popliteal fossa; “hamstring muscles” (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) and adductor magnus muscle
Sacral muscular S4
  • Levator ani, External anal sphincter
Sacral visceral S2-S4
  • Pelvic splanchnic nerve
Pudendal( sensory & motor) S2-S4
  • Skin of penis and scrotum in male and skin of clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, and lower vagina in female; muscles of perineum, anal canal

Exam Important

  • Nerves passing through lesser sciatic foramen are obturator internus & pudenal nerve
  • Superior gluteal nerve supplies Gluteus medius, Gluteus minimus & Tensor fasia lata 
  • Pudendal nerve supplying motor part to external sphincter is derived from S2-S4 roots
  • Gluteus medius is supplied by superior gluteal nerve
  • Pudenal nerve is both sensory and motor
  • Sacral plexus,  Nervi erigentes (S2,3,4) & pudenal nerve are involved in process of erection of penis
  • Pudendal nerve leaves pelvis and enters gluteal region through greater sciatic foramen 
  • Pudendal nerve leaves the gluteal region by passing through the lesser sciatic foramen and enters the pudendal canal
  • Anal canal Supplied by pudendal nerve
  • Ischial spine is related to pudenal nerve 

Structures passing through lesser sciatic foramen:

  • Pudendal nerve( leaves gluteal region to enter pudenal canal) lies in relation to Ischial spine
  • Internal pudendal vessels
  • Nerve to obturator internus
  • Tendon of obturator internus
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