Pelvic splanchnic nerves
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| 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.
Structure
The pelvic splanchnic nerves arise as branches of spinal nerves S2-S4 (which are part of the sacral plexus). They travel to their side's corresponding inferior hypogastric plexus, located on the side 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.
In Popular Culture
In the Futurama episode, Parasites Lost, the Professor creates a plan to enter Fry using micro-droids and stimulate the "pelvic splanchnic ganglion" to cause a large bowel movement, to remove a worm infestation from him.
See also
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)
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
