[2] The perforating cutaneous nerve typically[3] arises from the posterior divisions of[4] anterior rami of sacral spinal nerves S2 and S3 of the sacral plexus.

[4][2] The perforating cutaneous nerve innervates the skin that overlies the inferomedial portion of gluteus maximus muscle.

It is occasionally united with the pudendal nerve at its origin.

[3] It may be absent (this is the case in 36% of individuals) in which case it is replaced by a branch from either the posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh or from the anterior rami of either S3-S4 or S4-S5.

[3] Course Instead of piercing the sacrotuberous ligament, the perforating cutaneous may instead run with the pudendal nerve, or pass in between the sacrotuberous ligament and the gluteus maximus muscle.