What is the function of the nerve to the piriformis?

The nerve to the piriformis primarily provides motor innervation to the piriformis muscle, which is crucial for hip stabilization and movement. The piriformis muscle plays a significant role in the lateral rotation and abduction of the hip when the hip is flexed. Understanding the function of this nerve highlights the importance of the piriformis in maintaining proper hip mechanics and its relevance in certain clinical conditions such as piriformis syndrome.

The other options focus on different nerve functions. The gluteus maximus is innervated by the inferior gluteal nerve, not the nerve to the piriformis. Sensory innervation to the perineum is typically associated with the pudendal nerve. Lastly, parasympathetic innervation to the bladder is provided by the pelvic splanchnic nerves, which control bladder function and are unrelated to the piriformis or its innervations. This distinction reinforces the specific role of the nerve to the piriformis in motor control of the muscle itself.