Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: A female cadaver study

George Lazarou; Bogdan A. Grigorescu; Todd R. Olson; Sherry A. Downie; Kenneth Powers; Magdy S. Mikhail

doi:10.1007/s00192-007-0494-6

Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: A female cadaver study

George Lazarou, Bogdan A. Grigorescu, Todd R. Olson, Sherry A. Downie, Kenneth Powers, Magdy S. Mikhail

Anatomy & Structural Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our objective was to document variations in the topography of pelvic floor nerves (PFN) and describe a nerve-free zone adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL). Pelvic floor dissections were performed on 15 female cadavers. The course of the PFN was described in relation to the ischial spine (IS) and the SSL. The pudendal nerve (PN) passed medial to the IS and posterior to the SSL at a mean distance of 0.6 cm (SD = ±0.4) in 80% of cadavers. In 40% of cadavers, an inferior rectal nerve (IRN) variant pierced the SSL at a distance of 1.9 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. The levator ani nerve (LAN), coursed over the superior surface of the SSL-coccygeus muscle complex at a mean distance of 2.5 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. Anatomic variations were found which challenge the classic description of PFN. A nerve-free zone is situated in the medial third of the SSL.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	649-654
Number of pages	6
Journal	International Urogynecology Journal
Volume	19
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-007-0494-6
State	Published - May 2008

Keywords

Cadaver
Inferior rectal nerve variant
Levator ani nerve
Pudendal nerve
Sacrospinous ligament

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Urology

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10.1007/s00192-007-0494-6

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title = "Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: A female cadaver study",

abstract = "Our objective was to document variations in the topography of pelvic floor nerves (PFN) and describe a nerve-free zone adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL). Pelvic floor dissections were performed on 15 female cadavers. The course of the PFN was described in relation to the ischial spine (IS) and the SSL. The pudendal nerve (PN) passed medial to the IS and posterior to the SSL at a mean distance of 0.6 cm (SD = ±0.4) in 80% of cadavers. In 40% of cadavers, an inferior rectal nerve (IRN) variant pierced the SSL at a distance of 1.9 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. The levator ani nerve (LAN), coursed over the superior surface of the SSL-coccygeus muscle complex at a mean distance of 2.5 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. Anatomic variations were found which challenge the classic description of PFN. A nerve-free zone is situated in the medial third of the SSL.",

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AU - Powers, Kenneth

AU - Mikhail, Magdy S.

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AB - Our objective was to document variations in the topography of pelvic floor nerves (PFN) and describe a nerve-free zone adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL). Pelvic floor dissections were performed on 15 female cadavers. The course of the PFN was described in relation to the ischial spine (IS) and the SSL. The pudendal nerve (PN) passed medial to the IS and posterior to the SSL at a mean distance of 0.6 cm (SD = ±0.4) in 80% of cadavers. In 40% of cadavers, an inferior rectal nerve (IRN) variant pierced the SSL at a distance of 1.9 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. The levator ani nerve (LAN), coursed over the superior surface of the SSL-coccygeus muscle complex at a mean distance of 2.5 cm (SD = ±0.7) medial to the IS. Anatomic variations were found which challenge the classic description of PFN. A nerve-free zone is situated in the medial third of the SSL.

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Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: A female cadaver study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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