Structures Passing Through the Greater and Lesser Sciatic Foramina
Greater Sciatic Foramen Lesser Sciatic Foramen
Piriformis muscle Tendon of obturator internus
Sciatic nerve Nerve to obturator internus
Inferior gluteal nerve and artery Pudendal nerve
Internal pudendal nerve, artery, and vein Internal pudendal artery
Nerve to obturator internus muscle
Nerve to quadratus femoris
Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thighSex Differences of Pelvis
Differences linked to function
Pregnancy and childbirth in females
Heavier build and larger muscles of men
Main differences
Pelvis is heavier and has more pronounced muscle attachment sites in men than in women
Pubic arch is narrower and the subpubic angle more acute in men than women
Ischial tuberosities are closer in men than in women, and the pelvis outlet is thus comparatively smaller.
All of the ilia are less flared in men than in women, so the greater pelvis is deeper.
Pelvic inlet is heart-shaped in men and more transversely oval in women
Obturator foramen is round in men and oval in women
Female pelvis is broader than in men, to allow the passage of the fetal head