[Variations in the pathway of the inferior gluteal nerve (author's transl)].

In 17 out of 112 subjects examined, the inferior gluteal nerve leaves the pelvis through the piriformis and passes to the gluteus maximus. In 3 of the subjects the variation occurs bilaterally, and in 7 cases each it is found on either the right or the left side of the body alone. This variation occurs more often in women than in men. In all cases observed the common peroneal nerve also leaves the pelvis through the piriformis. Aside from the common peroneal nerve, the entire posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, or only its dorsal ramus, often runs alongside the inferior gluteal nerve through the "foramen intrapiriforme". The origin of this variations has to be discussed in connection with the specific embryological development of the piriformis.