
What nerves make up the inferior hypogastric plexus?
The inferior hypogastric plexus is formed by the contributions from the pelvic splanchnic nerves , sacral splanchnic nerves, and superior hypogastric plexus along with the afferent fibers from pelvic viscera. The hypogastric plexus contains both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous fibers.
Where does the hypogastric nerve start and end?
The hypogastric nerve starts at the fork of the superior hypogastric plexus: right and left plexus, continuing inferiorly bilaterally on the sides of the body, descending into the pelvis forming the inferior hypogastric plexus. The inferior hypogastric plexus forms a network of nerves that supply the viscera of the pelvic cavity.
What does the hypogastric plexus do?
The hypogastric plexus contains both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous fibers. The main function of this plexus is to supply the pelvic and perineal organs . Understanding the anatomy of this plexus is crucial to preventing iatrogenic injuries during abdominopelvic surgeries that can be life-threatening.
What does the sympathetic plexus innervate?
This sympathetic plexus innervates the smooth muscles of the seminal vesicle, which contracts as the bladder neck closes during ejaculation. It also activates the transport of spermatozoa from the testes to the seminal vesicles.

What organs are innervated by the hypogastric plexus?
The function of the hypogastric nerve reflects the sympathetic function of the inferior hypogastric plexus. Via the plexus and its branches, the hypogastric nerve gives sympathetic innervation to the rectum, urinary bladder, prostate, seminal glands, cervix of uterus and vagina.
What does hypogastric plexus supply?
The hypogastric plexus contains both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous fibers. The main function of this plexus is to supply the pelvic and perineal organs. Understanding the anatomy of this plexus is crucial to preventing iatrogenic injuries during abdominopelvic surgeries that can be life-threatening.
What does the hypogastric plexus do?
The inferior hypogastric plexus, also known as the pelvic plexus, is a paired plexus that can be found on the lateral surfaces of the rectum. This plexus supplies the pelvic organs, giving rise to the prostatic plexus in men and uterovaginal plexus in women.
What nerves are in superior hypogastric plexus?
Superior hypogastric plexusLocationAnterior to the vertebral body L5 and sacral promontoryBranchesLeft and right hypogastric nerves1 more row•Aug 15, 2022
What does the pelvic plexus innervate?
The pelvic plexus: innervation of pelvic and extrapelvic visceral tissues.
What contributes to the superior hypogastric plexus?
The superior hypogastric plexus is made up of nerve fibers extending inferiorly from the paravertebral sympathetic chain, joining together opposite the aortic bifurcation, anterior to the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae.
Is hypogastric nerve sympathetic or parasympathetic?
sympathetic nerve innervationThe hypogastric nerve arises from the ventral nerve roots of T12 to L3 and supplies sympathetic nerve innervation. The hypogastric nerve may be associated with the visceral fascia of the mesorectum.
Is the inferior hypogastric plexus sympathetic or parasympathetic?
The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure containing both parasympathetic nerves and sympathetic nerves arising from the inferior hypogastric plexus (Rob, Halaska, & Robova, 2010).
Which of the following nodes are part of the lower hypogastric plexus?
The inferior hypogastric plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in females. The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. (Pelvic plexus labeled at bottom right.) Lower half of right sympathetic cord.
Where is superior hypogastric plexus?
Your superior hypogastric plexus sits in front of the spine in the lower part of your back. Nerves from several parts of the lower abdomen and pelvis pass through this plexus. That includes nerves from the following organs: Bladder or urethra.
Where does the pudendal nerve originate?
The pudendal nerve arises from the sacral plexus in the very lowest part of your spine. The sacral plexus is a bundle of nerves located on the back of your pelvis. This sacral plexus is a complex network of nerves.
How long do hypogastric plexus blocks last?
Many patients say that within 30 minutes after the procedure they don't feel any other pain. However, the norm is that the longer-term pain relief begins to work within two to three days of the procedure. Usually, the pain relief lasts for weeks. However, this greatly varies from person to person.
What does the inferior mesenteric plexus innervate?
The inferior mesenteric plexus belongs to the aortic plexus, which is located in front of the abdominal aorta and is responsible for the sympathetic innervation of mesenteric, pelvic, and urogenital organs.
Is the inferior hypogastric plexus sympathetic or parasympathetic?
The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure containing both parasympathetic nerves and sympathetic nerves arising from the inferior hypogastric plexus (Rob, Halaska, & Robova, 2010).
What does the celiac plexus innervate?
The coeliac plexus lies anterolateral to the aorta and receives fibres from T5 to T12 that pass through splanchnic nerves. It innervates all abdominal viscera except for part of the transverse colon, descending colon, rectum, and pelvic viscera (Prithvi Raj et al 1996).
What does Hypogastric mean in medical terms?
Definition of hypogastric : of or relating to the lower median region of the abdomen.
Which nerves contribute to the superior hypogastric plexus?
The contributors include the superior hypogastric plexus, the sacral splanchnic nerves, and the pelvic splanchnic nerves. The pelvic plexus consists of sympathetic nerve fibers that descended in the hypogastric nerves with additional contributions from the sacral sympathetic trunk (“sacral splanchnic nerves ”), and parasympathetic fibers from ...
Where is the inferior hypogastric plexus?
The inferior hypogastric plexus, also known as the pelvic plexus, is a paired plexus that can be found on the lateral surfaces of the rectum. This plexus supplies the pelvic organs, giving rise to the prostatic plexus in men and uterovaginal plexus in women.
What are the three angles of the plexus?
The plexus also contains three angles: a superior angle following the hypogastric nerve from the superior hypogastric plexus, a posterior angle in contact with the fourth sacral rami, and an anterior inferior angle in contact with the ureter and broad ligament ( Sienkiewicz-Zawilinska et al., 2018; Mauroy et al., 2007a, 2007b ).
What is superior hypogastric plexus injury?
Superior Hypogastric Plexus Injury. Superior hypogastric plexus injury may result in bladder dysfunction in females and either retrograde ejaculation or sterility, or both, in males. The superior hypogastric plexus is situated in the bifurcation of the aorta on the fifth lumbar vertebral body and the sacrum.
What is hypogastric plexus block?
Hypogastric plexus block using the classic two-needle technique is reserved for those patients in whom presacral tumor mass or adenopathy prevents contralateral spread of solutions injected through a single needle. This technique is useful in the evaluation and management of sympathetically mediated pain of the pelvic viscera. 6 Included in this category are pain secondary to malignancy, endometriosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, proctalgia fugax, and radiation enteritis. Hypogastric plexus block is also useful in the palliation of tenesmus secondary to radiation therapy to the rectum. Hypogastric plexus block with local anesthetic can be used as a diagnostic tool when performing differential neural blockade on an anatomic basis in the evaluation of pelvic and rectal pain. If destruction of the hypogastric plexus is being considered, this technique is useful as a prognostic indicator of the degree of pain relief that the patient may experience. Hypogastric plexus block with local anesthetic is also useful in the treatment of acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia involving the sacral dermatomes. Destruction of the hypogastric plexus is indicated for the palliation of pain syndromes that have temporarily responded to blockade of the hypogastric plexus with local anesthetic and have not been controlled with more conservative measures. 7
Why is fluoroscopic assistance required for hypogastric plexus block?
Fluoroscopic assistance is usually required because hypogastric plexus block does not have a palpable endpoint. The basic approach is not unlike that used for the lumbar sympathetic block; hypogastric plexus block is performed lateral to L5 vertebra. The needle is directed caudad, and the goal is placement anterior to the lumbosacral junction.
Where is the celiac plexus located?
Like the celiac plexus, it is located in the retroperitoneum and situated bilaterally along the anterior surface of the L5 vertebral body .27 CT or fluoroscopically guided neurolysis of the superior hypogastric plexus is appropriate for patients with CRC of the sigmoid colon and intractable abdominal or pelvic pain.
Which spinal nerves are involved in the inferior hypogastric plexus?
Some authors have reported contribution of S1-S5 spinal nerves to the inferior hypogastric plexus. However, Baljet and Drukker (1981) have found that the majority of nerve fibers entering this plexus from the sacral nerves arise from the S3 ventral rami. In the female, transection of the uterosacral ligaments results in disruption ...
What is the inferior plexus?
Inferior Hypogastric Plexus. The inferior hypogastric plexus is formed from the fusion of the superior hypogastric plexus, pelvic splanchnics, and sacral splanchnics incorporated with visceral afferent fibers. Some authors have reported contribution of S1-S5 spinal nerves to the inferior hypogastric plexus. However, Baljet and Drukker (1981) have ...
What is the intermediate part of the penis?
Innervation. Intermediate part – the inferior hypogastric plexus, the lumbar splanchnic nerves, and the pelvic splanchnic nerves. Spongy urethra – from the dorsal nerve of the penis, a branch of the pudendal nerve.
Which structure contains both parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves?
The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure containing both parasympathetic nerves and sympathetic nerves arising from the inferior hypogastric plexus (Rob, Halaska, & Robova, 2010).
What are the parts of the male urethra?
The male urethra is subdivided into four parts: the vesicular part (in the bladder neck), prostatic, intermediate, and the spongy; the intermediate and spongy parts form the distal urethra.
Why are prostatic nerves important to the imager?
The major relevance of the prostatic nerves to the imager is merely to appreciate that the gland is to a degree sensate, and that local anaesthetic is of benefit during prostate biopsy.
Where does the urethra end?
The ‘spongy (cavernous) urethra’ begins at the distal end of the intermediate part of the urethra and ends at the male external urethral surface. On each side, the slender ducts of the ‘bulbo-urethral glands’ open into the proximal part of the spongy urethra. The ducts of the mucus-secreting ‘urethral glands’ also secrete into the spongy urethra.
Which nerves contribute to the superior hypogastric plexus?
superior hypogastric plexus in the form of the hypogastric nerve. sacral splanchnic nerves from the sympathetic trunk at vertebral levels T10-L2. pelvic splanchnic nerves . The pelvic splanchnic nerves contribute parasympathetic efferent fibers to the plexus. Embryology.
What is the inferior hypogastric plexus?
The inferior hypogastric plexus mediates sensation, such as pain, through the sympathetic chain for the lower abdominal and pelvic viscera. It is thought to be a major structure involved in numerous pelvic and perineal pain syndromes and conditions.
Why is the inferior hypogastric plexus a paired structure?
Because the inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure, injury is a commonly known complication of pelvic surgeries. Damage to the plexus can lead to urinary dysfunction, specifically urinary incontinence. The bladder will be non-compliant with a fixed external sphincter tone.
Why is it difficult to dissect the inferior hypogastric plexus?
Dissection of the inferior hypogastric plexus is difficult due to its location, the multiplicity of its sympathetic and parasympathetic roots, and the complex distribution of its terminal branches. The density of surrounding connective tissue also precludes the pelvic-perineal anatomy; therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact relationship between the nerves and pelvic connective tissue. The inferior hypogastric plexus lends its clinical relevance to various urogenital pain syndromes, including endometriosis, prostatitis, and chronic pain of the sacral region, postherpetic neuralgia, and rectal pain, among others.[2] Therefore, any surgical procedure in this anatomical region must be met with due diligence, with respect to the underlying plexus that may be inadvertently damaged, thus causing a slew of related symptoms of the urogenital tract as well compromise of the pelvic autonomic innervation. [3][4]
What is the pelvic plexus?
The 'pelvic plexus,' more specifically known as the inferior hypogastric plexus, consists of a complex fibro-nervous structural network of afferent and efferent fibers providing function for the pelvic and perineal organs.
Where do the efferent fibers of the bladder come from?
The efferent fibers innervate the bladder and are situated superior and inferior. Fibers of the superior level arise from the hypogastric nerves at the ureterovesical junction, unlike the inferior level fibers that arise from the anterior plexus edge and approach the bladder neck at 5 and 7 o'clock positions.
Which plexus receives upper lumbar communication?
There are two sources of sympathetic contribution in the inferior hypogastric plexus; the largest contribution comes from the superior hypogastric plexus, purely containing sympathetic fibers and receives upper lumbar communication from the intermesenteric plexus and the L3 and L4 splanchnic nerves.
Which nerves contribute to the plexus?
pelvic splanchnic nerves (from the second, third, and fourth sacral nerves) also contribute parasympathetic efferent fibers to the plexus. From these plexuses numerous branches are distributed to the viscera of the pelvis . They accompany the branches of the internal iliac artery .
Where is the plexus located?
The plexus is formed from: a continuation of the superior hypogastric plexus on either side, at the Sacrum#Promontory in the interiliac triangle. At this location, the presacral nerve sits in the middle in only 25% of people and is more commonly present on the left.
Which plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus?
The inferior hypogastric plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in females. The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure, meaning there is one on the left and the right side of the body.
What is the lower half of the sympathetic cord?
Lower half of right sympathetic cord. (Hypogastric plexus labeled at bottom left.) The inferior hypogastric plexus ( pelvic plexus in some texts) is a network ( plexus) of nerves that supplies the organs of the pelvic cavity. The inferior hypogastric plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in females.
Where is the superior hypogastric plexus located?
The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus of nerves situated on the vertebral bodies anterior to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta .
Which ganglia is responsible for the superior hypogastric plexus?
The superior hypogastric plexus receives contributions from the two lower lumbar splanchnic nerves (L3-L4), which are branches of the chain ganglia. They also contain parasympathetic fibers which arise from pelvic splanchnic nerve (S2-S4) and ascend from Inferior hypogastric plexus; it is more usual for these parasympathetic fibers to ascend to ...
Which nerves are carried into the pelvis?
From the plexus, sympathetic fibers are carried into the pelvis as two main trunks- the right and left hypogastric nerves- each lying medial to the internal iliac artery and its branches.
What is a presacral neurectomy?
Presacral neurectomy is a laparoscopic procedure where superior hypogastric plexus is excised, so that the pain pathway is cut off from the spinal column. This procedure is done to manage chronic pelvic pain when conservative medical therapy fails.
