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A Case Report On Variant Termination Of Sciatic Nerve
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The sciatic nerve is the thickest nerve in the body. It leaves the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen below piriformis and descends between the greater trochanter and ischial tuberosity, along the back of the thigh, dividing into the tibial and common peroneal (fibular) nerves at a varying level proximal to the knee. During routine dissection for the first MBBS students, I observed an unusual termination of the sciatic nerve on the back of the left thigh in the middle of the popliteal fossa of a 70 year old, donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K.J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India. The sciatic nerve terminated in the middle of the popliteal fossa into the tibial nerve, common peroneal (fibular) and the sural nerve. The photographs of the three branches of the sciatic nerve were taken for proper documentation and for ready reference. Conclusion: The trifurcation of the sciatic nerve is very rare. The knowledge of low level of termination of sciatic nerve is important for clinicians and surgeons. Clinically, the sural nerve is widely used for both diagnostic (biopsy and nerve conduction velocity studies) and therapeutic purposes (nerve grafting). Thus, a detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the sural nerve and its contributing nerves are important in carrying out these and other procedures.