The nerve to obturator internus (also known as the obturator internus nerve[citation needed]) is a mixed (sensory and motor)[1] nerve providing motor innervation to the obturator internus muscle and gemellus superior muscle,[2][1] and sensory innervation to the hip joint.[1] It is a branch of the sacral plexus. It is one of the group of deep gluteal nerves.[2]
| Nerve to obturator internus | |
|---|---|
 Plan of sacral plexus and pudendal plexus (nerve to the obturator internus and gemellus superior labeled at lower left) | |
 Nerves of the right leg seen from behind (nerve to the obturator internus labeled at upper left) | |
| Details | |
| From | Sacral plexus |
| Innervates | Obturator internus and gemellus superior muscles |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus musculi obturatorii interni |
| TA98 | A14.2.07.028 |
| TA2 | 6550 |
| FMA | 78711 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen to innervate the gemellus superior muscle, then re-enters the pelvis to innervate the obturator internus muscle.[2]
Structure
Origin
The nerve to obturator internus is a branch of the lumbosacral plexus.[3] It arises from the anterior divisions of (the anterior rami of[2]) L5-S2.[3][4][2]
Course and relations
It emerges inferior to the piriformis muscle and exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen. It travels round the base of the ischial spine[2] lateral to the internal pudendal artery and nerve, and - while doing so - issues a branch to the gemellus superior, which enters the upper part of the posterior surface of the muscle.[citation needed] It then re-enters the pelvis through the lesser sciatic foramen to innervate the obturator internus muscle,[2] piercing the pelvic surface of this muscle.[citation needed]
See also
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 957 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
