Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (also posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh, Latin: nervus cutaneus femoris posterior) is a long, sensory branch of the sacral nerve plexus that innervates the skin of the thigh.

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve arises from the ventral branches of the first, second and third sacral nerves (S1 - S3).

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve leaves the pelvic cavity via the infrapiriform foramen, lying medially to the the sciatic nerve. Then it descends along the posterior surface of the internal obturator, superior gemellus, inferior gemellus and quadratus femoris, pierces the fascia lata and divides into cutaneous branches.

Along its course the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve gives off the inferior cluneal nerves and the perineal nerves.

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve innervates the skin of the posterior region of the thigh till the popliteal fossa.