Abstract
The arterial supply to the sciatic nerve was investigated in 20 human lower limbs (10 right, 10 left) from 20 cadavers (14 females, aged 84 Β± 9.6 years, range 66β95 years: 6 males, aged 80 Β± 8.2 years, range 70β90 years). In all limbs examined at least 1 sciatic artery could be identified supplying the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region. In total 28 sciatic arteries were identified, of which 14 arose from the medial circumflex femoral artery, 11 from the inferior gluteal artery, 2 from the first perforating artery, and 1 from the internal pudendal artery. In 5 limbs, 2 sciatic arteries were observed, being independent branches from the medial circumflex femoral and inferior gluteal arteries in 4 limbs and separate branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery in 1 limb. In 1 limb, 4 sciatic arteries were observed: 1 from the inferior gluteal artery, 2 from the medial circumflex femoral artery, and 1 from the first perforating artery. In the remaining 14 limbs a single sciatic artery was observed, which in one case arose from the internal pudendal artery, a previously unreported observation. Clin. Anat. 21:62β65, 2008. Β© 2007 WileyβLiss, Inc.