Pelvic splanchnic nerves

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nerve: Pelvic splanchnic nerves
Latin	nervi pelvici splanchnici nervi erigentes
From	S2-S4
Dorlands / Elsevier	r_02/12687960

Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the hindgut.

[edit] Structure

The pelvic splanchnic nerves arise from the ventral rami of the S2-S4 and enter the sacral plexus. They travel to their side's corresponding inferior hypogastric plexus, located bilaterally on the walls of the rectum.

From there, they contribute to the innervation of the pelvic and genital organs. The nerves regulate the emptying of the urinary bladder and the rectum as well as sexual functions like erection.

They contain both preganglionic parasympathetic fibers as well as visceral afferent fibers.

The parasympathetic nervous system is referred to as the craniosacral outflow; the pelvic splanchnic nerves are the sacral component. They are in the same region as the sacral splanchnic nerves, which arise from the sympathetic trunk and provide sympathetic efferent fibers.

Proximal to the splenic flexure of the transverse colon, the gastrointestinal tract is supplied its parasympathetic fibers by the vagus nerve. Distal to the splenic flexure, the pelvic splanchnic nerves take over.

[edit] See also

• sacral splanchnic nerves

[edit] External links

• Pelvic+splanchnic+nerves at eMedicine Dictionary
• SUNY Labs 43:15-0107
• Anatomy at UMich autonomics_abdomen_module/abdomen_07
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_32/32-6.HTM
• Norman/Georgetown pelvis (pelvicnerves)

v • d • e Nerves - autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion) Head/cranial Ciliary ganglion: roots (Sensory, Parasympathetic, Sympathetic) - Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal - nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine (inferior posterior nasal branches) - lesser palatine - nasopalatine (medial superior posterior nasal branches) - pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion Neck/cervical paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia (Superior, Middle, Inferior) - Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus - Internal carotid Chest/thorax paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus - Esophageal plexus - Pulmonary plexus - Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary - thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior - Middle - Inferior Abdomen/Lumbar paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia (Aorticorenal) - Superior mesenteric ganglion - Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus - (Hepatic, Splenic, Pancreatic) - aorticorenal (Abdominal aortic plexus, Renal/Suprarenal) - Superior mesenteric (Gastric) - Inferior mesenteric (Spermatic, Ovarian) - Superior hypogastric (hypogastric nerve, Superior rectal) - Inferior hypogastric (Vesical, Prostatic/Cavernous nerves of penis, Uterovaginal, Middle rectal) splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves enteric nervous system: Meissner's plexus • Auerbach's plexus Pelvis/sacral paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia - Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves - Sacral splanchnic nerves All Rami communicans (White, Gray) - Preganglionic fibers - Postganglionic fibers