Structures passing through sciatic foramen and pudendal canal : Mnemonic

sciatic foramen

Sacrospinous ligament converts greater sciatic notch into greater sciatic foramen.
Sacrotuberous ligament and sacrospinous ligament converts lesser sciatic notch into lesser sciatic foramen.
Pudendal canal is a fascial canal formed by splitting of the obturator fascia and is located on the lateral wall of ischiorectal fossa.

Structures passing thorugh greater sciatic foramen: S-SPIN-PIN

  1. Above pyriformis muscle: S
    • Superior gluteal artery and nerve
  2. Below pyriformis muscle: SPIN
    • Sciatic nerve
    • Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
    • Inferior gluteal artery and nerve
    • Nerve to quadratus femoris
    • Pudendal nerve
    • Internal pudendal vessels
    • Nerve to obturator internus

Structures passing through lesser sciatic foramen: PIN-T

The last 3 structures passing though the greater sciatic foramen also passes through the lesser sciatic foramen.

  1. Pudendal nerve
  2. Internal pudendal vessels
  3. Nerve to obturator internus
  4. Tendon of obturator internus

Structures passing through pudendal canal: PI

  1. Pudendal nerve
  2. Internal pudendal vessels


3 Viewpoints 💬 on “Structures passing through sciatic foramen and pudendal canal : Mnemonic”

  1. Thank you so much for all the work here! I’m a 3rd year medical student and it’s soo helpful.

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