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nervus ischiadicus

nervus ischiadicus

8.2
A large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of the thigh to the lower leg
  • noun
  • /ˈnɜrvəs ɪˈskaɪəˌdɪkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nervio ciático
  • Compression of the nervus ischiadicus may lead to symptoms commonly known as sciatica.

Examples

  • An injury to the nervus ischiadicus can cause severe pain and muscle weakness in the leg.

  • The surgeon carefully located the nervus ischiadicus before proceeding with the operation.

  • The nervus ischiadicus is the longest nerve in the human body.

  • Patients may experience pain along the nervus ischiadicus.

  • An injury to the nervus ischiadicus can cause severe pain and muscle weakness in the leg.

  • Compression of the nervus ischiadicus may lead to symptoms commonly known as sciatica.

  • The surgeon carefully located the nervus ischiadicus before proceeding with the operation.

Synonyms

sciatic nerve
vsnervus ischiadicus
  • Specialized
3 4.4

A large thick cord that sends messages from the lower back down the back of each leg

is the alternative technical name used for the same nerve

Surface Forms

Morphology

nervus + ischiadicus

This is a specialized Latin anatomical name: while 'nervus' signals 'nerve', the second element ('ischiadicus') is technical and undefined here, and its relation to the sciatic region (ischium) is not transparent to a B1 learner. Because the term is specialist Latin morphology rather than everyday English composition, the overall meaning 'sciatic nerve' cannot be reliably derived from the parts by typical learners.

Etymology

Nervus ischiadicus comes from Latin: nervus means 'nerve' and ischiadicus points to the hip bone called the 'ischium'. Because this large nerve starts near the hip and runs down the leg, the name explains why we now call it the 'sciatic nerve'.