Sciatic Nerve

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It forms from nerve fibers arising from spinal levels L4 through S3 and travels from the pelvis into the back of the thigh. It contains fibers involved in both muscle control and sensation, connecting much of the lower limb with the nervous system .¹

The nerve usually passes below the piriformis muscle and continues down the thigh before dividing near the knee. Its two major branches are the tibial nerve and the common fibular nerve, also called the common peroneal nerve. These branches continue into different regions of the lower leg and foot .¹

The sciatic nerve supplies muscles at the back of the thigh, including the hamstrings. Through its branches, it also supplies muscles involved in ankle and toe movements and carries sensory information from much of the lower leg and foot. Its sensory territory does not include the entire lower limb: the inner side of the lower leg, for example, is supplied by the saphenous nerve .¹