Median nerve vs Sciatic nerve
| Property | Median nerve | Sciatic nerve |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Name | Nervus medianus | Nervus ischiadicus |
| Type | Nerve | Nerve |
| Body System | Nervous | Nervous |
| Body Region | Forearm | Hip |
| Function | Provides motor innervation to most flexors of the forearm and thenar muscles of the hand. Provides sensory innervation to the lateral palm and palmar surface of the lateral three and … | The largest and longest nerve in the body, providing motor innervation to the posterior thigh and all muscles below the knee. Provides sensory innervation to the lateral leg, foot, and … |
| Clinical Significance | Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, and weakness. Anterior interosseous syndrome affects motor function. Pronator teres syndrome compresses the nerve proximally. … | Sciatica (sciatic nerve irritation, often from disc herniation) causes radiating pain down the posterior leg. Piriformis syndrome compresses the nerve in the buttock. Improper gluteal injections can damage the nerve. … |
| FMA ID | 14385 | 19034 |
Full structure pages
Median nerve
Nervus medianus
Formed from the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus (C5 to T1), the median nerve supplies most of the flexor muscles of the forearm and the thenar muscles of the hand, and carries …
Sciatic nerve
Nervus ischiadicus
The largest and longest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve supplies motor innervation to the posterior thigh and every muscle below the knee, and sensation to the lateral leg, the foot, and part of …