Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh

This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (June 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message )

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh (also called the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve) is a sensory nerve of the thigh. It is a branch of the sacral plexus. It supplies the skin of the posterior surface of the thigh, leg, buttock, and also the perineum.

Unlike most nerves termed "cutaneous" which are subcutaneous, only the terminal branches of this nerve pass into subcutaneous tissue before being distributed to the skin, with most of the nerve itself situated deep to the deep fascia.^[1]

Structure

Origin

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a branch of the

• The
  inferior clunial nerves (or gluteal branches), three or four in number, turn upward around the lower border of the gluteus maximus
  , and supply the skin covering the lower and lateral part of that muscle.
• The perineal branches are distributed to the skin at the upper and medial side of the thigh.
• The main part to the back of the thigh and leg consists of numerous filaments derived from both sides of the nerve, and distributed to the skin covering the back and medial side of the thigh, the popliteal fossa, and the upper part of the back of the leg.

Distribution

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh provides sensory innervation to most of^[2] the posterior surface of the thigh (upper leg),^[2][1] and the superior^[1] part of the posterior surface of the leg (lower leg),^[2][1] as well as (the inferior part of) the gluteal region (via inferior cluneal nerves, derived from anterior rami of S1-S2), and the perineum (via the perineal branch).^[1]

Clinical significance

The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh may be involved in pain in the posterior thigh.^[3]

Additional images

This gallery of anatomic features needs cleanup to abide by the medical manual of style. Galleries containing indiscriminate images of the article subject are discouraged ; please improve or remove the gallery accordingly. (June 2015)

• 
  Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.
• 
  Cutaneous nerves of the right lower extremity. Front and posterior views.
• 
  Schematic of sacral plexus. Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh is labeled at the bottom.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 959 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve at the Duke University Health System's Orthopedics program