Sciatic Nerve And Sciatica

Any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve can be called sciatica disease.

The sciatic nerve (also known as the ischiadic nerve and the ischiatic nerve) is a large nerve fiber in humans and other animals. It begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb. It is the longest and widest single nerve in the human body going from the top of the leg to the foot on the posterior aspect.

Pain caused by a compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve by a problem in the lower back is called sciatica. Sciatic pain can be mild and severe.

Slipped or the herniated disc in the lower back region is the most common cause of sciatica. But sometimes it is impossible to determine the cause of sciatica.

Every singe nerve in the body is responsible for some particular function. Here are the functions of the sciatic nerve:

• Your sciatic nerve is responsible for carrying sensory information from your lower limbs to your brain and also sending motor information to your lower extremities.
• This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.
• The sciatic nerve supplies information about movements to the leg, and sends information about sensations back to the brain.
• The sciatic nerve enables movement and feelings in the thighs, knees, calves, ankles, feet and toes.
• The sciatic nerve also controls the movement of the feet.

Tags: herniated disc, ischiadic nerve, sciatc nerve, sciatica

Category: Sciatica definition