Sciatic nerve Sciatic nerve The sciatic nerve (also called "ischiadic nerve", "ischiatic nerve") is a large nerve 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. The sciatic nerve provides the connection to the nervous system for nearly the whole of the skin of the leg, the muscles of the back of the thigh, and those of the leg and foot. It is derived
Nerve biopsy Nerve biopsy In medicine, a nerve biopsy is an invasive procedure in which a piece of nerve is removed from an organism and examined under a microscope. A nerve biopsy can lead to the discovery of necrotizing vasculitis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, leprosy, metabolic neuropathies, inflammation of the nerve, loss of axon tissue, and demyelination. Biopsy literally means an examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease. A nerve biopsy may be necessary when a patient experiences numbness, pain, or weakness in places such as the fingers or toes. A nerve biopsy