The posterior cutaneous femoral nerve provides cutaneous inervation of the posterior surface of the thigh and leg, as well as the skin of the perineum. The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh leaves the pelvis through the sciatic foramen, below the piriformis muscle and passes down the
buttock and thigh on the medial aspect of the sciatic nerve. It consists of nerve roots from the anterior and posterior divisions of S1, S2 and anterior divisions of S2, S3. The perineal branches provide sensory inervation to the superior medial surface of the thighs, the skin of the scrotum or labia majora. The gluteal branches, turn upward around the lower border of the gluteus maximus, and supply the skin covering the lower and lateral part of that muscle. 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.
Last date updated on September, 2024