Origin The perforating cutaneous nerve typically arises from the posterior divisions of
anterior rami of
sacral spinal nerves S2 and
S3 of the
sacral plexus.
Course It pierces the inferior part of the
sacrotuberous ligament, then passes along the inferior border of the
gluteus maximus muscle.''''''
Distribution The perforating cutaneous nerve innervates the
skin that overlies the inferomedial portion of
gluteus maximus muscle.
Variation Origin The perforating cutaneous nerve may arise from the
pudendal nerve. It is occasionally united with the pudendal nerve at its origin. It may be absent (this is the case in 36% of individuals) in which case it is replaced by a branch from either the
posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh or from the anterior rami of either S3-S4 or S4-S5.
Course Instead of piercing the sacrotuberous ligament, the perforating cutaneous may instead run with the pudendal nerve, or pass in between the
sacrotuberous ligament and the
gluteus maximus muscle. ==See also==