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sciatic nerve
noun
: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the nerve plexus supplying the posterior limb and pelvic region and that pass out of the pelvis and down the back of the thigh
Examples of sciatic nerve in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fascinatingly, a neuron’s cell body can measure a tenth of a millimeter across, while its axons can stretch more than 3 feet in length, as in the leg’s sciatic nerve.
—Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024
About the width of a thumb, your sciatic nerve starts in the lower part of the spinal canal and then splits to run down through your pelvic area, each buttock and thigh, and along each leg to your feet and toes.
—Laura Riley, Parents, 2 Sep. 2023
Researchers anchored one end of their fiber to the mice’s skulls, threaded it underneath the skin, and wrapped a cuff at the other end around the sciatic nerve in the leg.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Nov. 2023
The pain came on slow and built over the next two weeks until one day the disc pinched her sciatic nerve.
—WIRED, 16 Aug. 2023
Luckily, stretching the glutes and hamstrings can reduce sciatica and prevent the surrounding muscles from irritating the sciatic nerve, says Chellsen.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 16 Aug. 2023
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body (about the size of your finger, only a little flatter).
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 29 Aug. 2023
The condition is caused by pain radiating from the sciatic nerve, causing extreme discomfort and pain in the legs and lower back.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2023
Radiating pain from the sciatic nerve is often caused by tight muscles irritating the nerve, particularly in the deep hip rotator muscles, says Chellsen.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 16 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sciatic nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1726, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sciatic nerve
Cite this Entry
“Sciatic nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sciatic%20nerve. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
sciatic nerve
nounsī-ˌat-ik-
: a nerve that runs down the back of the thigh and is the largest nerve in the body
Medical Definition
sciatic nerve
noun
: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the sacral plexus and that pass out of the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and down the back of the thigh to its lower third where division into the tibial and common peroneal nerves occurs
More from Merriam-Webster on sciatic nerve
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sciatic nerve
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