Sciatic nerve and its branches

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The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It arises from the lumbosacral plexus in the lower back (L4-S3 spinal levels) and travels through the buttocks, passing through the pelvis and the piriformis muscle, before coursing down the posterior thigh to provide nervous innervation to the structures of the hip, posterior thigh, knee, leg, ankle and foot.

At the level of the posterior knee the sciatic nerve splits into its two major branches, the common fibular nerve and the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve continues a posterior path supplying the posterior leg, heel and plantar surface of the foot. The common fibular nerve wraps around the head of the fibula bone, dividing into superficial and deep branches to supply the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg, the anterior ankle and the dorsum of the foot.

Watch the following video to learn more about the sciatic nerve.

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Browse atlas

Take a closer look at the course and branches of the sciatic nerve in the gallery below. 

Summary