The nerve to quadratus femoris is a nerve of the sacral plexus that provides motor innervation to the quadratus femoris muscle and gemellus inferior muscle, and an articular branch to the hip joint. The nerve leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen.
Structure
Origin
The nerve to quadratus femoris is a branch of the sacral plexus.[1][2] It arises from the anterior divisions of the spinal nerves L4-S1.[1]
Course
It exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis muscle.[2]
It passes inferior-ward upon the ischium deep to the sciatic nerve,[2][3] the superior and inferior gemellus muscles, and the tendon of the obturator internus.[2] It traverses the posterior aspect of the hip joint,[3] here issuing an articular (sensory) branch to the joint.[1][verification needed][2][4][3] It proceeds inferior-ward deep to the superior and inferior gemelli muscles and the obturator internus muscle.[3]
It enters the anterior surfaces of quadratus femoris muscle[3][1][verification needed] and gemellus inferior muscle.[1][verification needed]
Variation
Rarely, the nerve to quadratus femoris may also innervate the gemellus superior muscle, or the upper part of adductor magnus muscle.[2]
Function
The nerve to quadratus femoris provides motor innervation to quadratus femoris muscle and inferior gemellus muscle.[1][2] It also provides sensory innervation to the hip joint.[1][2][3]
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 957 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d e f g Mehta, Karishma; Tubbs, Shane (2021). "Chapter 8 - The Nerve to Quadratus Femoris". Surgical Anatomy of the Sacral Plexus and Its Branches. Elsevier. pp. 35–39. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-77602-8.00008-8. ISBN 978-0-323-77602-8. S2CID 225034406.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Apaydin, Nihal (2015). "Chapter 47 - Variations of the Lumbar and Sacral Plexuses and Their Branches". Nerves and Nerve Injuries. Vol. 1: History, Embryology, Anatomy, Imaging, and Diagnostics. Academic Press. pp. 627–645. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00049-4. ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0.
- ^ a b c d e f Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 127. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
- ^ Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.; Agur, Anne M. R. (2018). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. p. 733. ISBN 978-1-4963-4721-3.
