Lesser sciatic foramen

Lesser sciatic foramen
Image of the pelvis showing the lesser sciatic foramen
Details
Identifiers
Latin	foramen ischiadicum minus
TA98	A03.6.03.009
TA2	1345
FMA	17035
Anatomical terminology

The lesser sciatic foramen is an opening (foramen) between the pelvis and the back of the thigh. The foramen is formed by the sacrotuberous ligament which runs between the sacrum and the ischial tuberosity and the sacrospinous ligament which runs between the sacrum and the ischial spine.

Structure

The lesser sciatic foramen has the following boundaries:

• Anterior: the tuberosity of the ischium
• Superior: the spine of the ischium and sacrospinous ligament
• Posterior: the sacrotuberous ligament

Alternatively, the foramen can be defined by the boundaries of the lesser sciatic notch and the two ligaments.

Function

Pudendal nerve and its course through the lesser sciatic foramen

The following pass through the foramen:

• the tendon of the obturator internus
• internal pudendal vessels
• pudendal nerve
• nerve to the obturator internus

See also

• Greater sciatic foramen

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 309 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)