Nerve to obturator internus

Nerve: Nerve to obturator internus
Plan of sacral plexus and pudendal plexus. (Nerve to the Obturator internus and Gemellus superior labeled at lower left.)
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view. (Nerve to the Obturator internus labeled at upper left.)
Latin	nervus musculi obturatorii interni
Gray's	subject #213 957
From	sacral plexus

The nerve to obturator internus is a nerve that innervates the obturator internus and gemellus superior muscles.

Course

The nerve to obturator internus originates in the sacral plexus. It arises from the ventral divisions of the fifth lumbar and first and second sacral nerves.

It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle, and gives off the branch to the gemellus superior, which enters the upper part of the posterior surface of the muscle.

It then crosses the ischial spine, reenters the pelvis through the lesser sciatic foramen, and pierces the pelvic surface of the obturator internus.

See also

• Obturator nerve
• Nerve to quadratus femoris

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.