Inferior gluteal cutaneous nerves
Nervi cutanei glutei inferiores
- Latin synonym: Nervi inferiores clunium
- Synonym: Inferior clunial nerves; Inferior cluneal nerves
- Related terms: Inferior clunial nerves; Inferior clunial nerves (Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh; Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve)
Definition
The inferior gluteal cutaneous nerves (a.k.a. the inferior cluneal nerves) are one of the cutaneous branches of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve of thigh. The latter, as you may know, is a branch of the sacral plexus.
The inferior gluteal cutaneous nerves emerge and loop upwards underneath the inferior fold of gluteus maximus muscle. The end up providing cutaneous sensory innervation to the skin overlying the inferior and lateral aspects of the buttocks.
References
Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.
Standring, S. and Gray, H. (2016). ‘Chapter 80: Pelvic Girdle, Gluteal Region and Thigh’ in Gray’s anatomy The anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (41st ed.) New York: Elsevier, pp. 1374.
Jennette, M. R., Bailey, D., Patel, N. and Rizk, E. (2022). Unidentified Branches of the Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve and Persistent Neuropathy. Cureus 14(9): e29447. doi:10.7759/cureus.29447
