Pudendal nerve

Scientific basis

The pudendal nerve leaves the pelvis, wraps around the region of the ischial spine, passes close to the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments, then enters the pudendal canal, or Alcock's canal. It divides notably into the inferior rectal nerve, the perineal nerve and the dorsal nerve of the penis or clitoris. Its course thus passes through several anatomical environments — muscular, ligamentous and fascial — whose mechanical relationships can vary with movements of the pelvis and hips. Sitting is of particular interest because part of this course lies close to the regions that bear pelvic and perineal pressure.

Blue Portance / SBNFA™ reading

In the SBNFA™, the pudendal nerve is analyzed not as an isolated structure but as a mobile element within a tissue environment. The analysis focuses in particular on the mobility of the nerve relative to neighboring tissues, its capacity for gliding, the distribution of stresses, and their duration and variability over time.

Contribution to the analysis of sitting

A functional seating analysis therefore does not consist solely of looking for local pressure. It also looks at the capacity of the pelvis and hips to change configuration, to modify the points of support and to avoid holding the same mechanical organization for long periods.

Not to be confused with

Pudendal neuralgia, which refers to a pain syndrome; Alcock's canal, which corresponds to an anatomical region along the course of the nerve.

Sources and scope

• Robert et al. (2009): morphogenesis, anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical features and treatment of the pudendal nerve
• Yang et al. (2026): anatomical variations of the pudendal nerve and associated structures
• Ranjan et al. (2022): anatomical variants of the extrapelvic portion of the pudendal nerve
• StatPearls (2026): pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome