Yoga Anatomy

E5267/Kaminoff/fig8.8b/417740/alw/pulled-r1

Vastus

lateralis

Psoas

major

Biceps

femoris

Sciatic

nerve

The following illustrations show the relationship
of the sciatic nerve to the piriformis muscle in:

1. neutral hip position (fi gure a);


2. external rotation and abduction, which actually
   shorten the piriformis (fi gure b);


3. hip fl exion, which begins the lengthening of the
   piriformis and other external rotators (fi gure c);


4. and hip flexion combined with adduction,
   which puts the piriformis into maximal length,
   along with the sciatic nerve (fi gure d).

Folded-forward variation.

E5267/Kaminoff/fig8.9a/417741/alw/pulled-r2

E5267/Kaminoff/fig8.9b/417742/alw/pulled-r2

Piriformis

Sciatic nerve

Sacrotuberous

ligament (showing

continuity with the

attachment of

the hamstrings)

Piriformis

Sciatic nerve

Sacrotuberous

ligament (showing

continuity with the

attachment of

the hamstrings)

E5267/Kaminoff/fig8.9c/417743/alw/pulled-r2

E5267/Kaminoff/fig8.9d/417744/alw/pulled-r2

The hip joint, sciatic nerve, and piriformis muscle in four positions as they go into the

folded-forward pigeon variation: (a) neutral; (b) externally rotated and abducted; (c)

externally rotated, abducted, and fl exed; and (d) externally rotated, fl exed, and adducted.

a b

c d