The hypogastric nerves (one on each side) are the continuation of the
superior hypogastric plexus
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. It bifurcates to form the left and the right hypog ...
that descend into the pelvis anterior the sacrum and become the
inferior hypogastric plexuses on either side of pelvic organs. The hypogastric nerves serve as a pathway for
autonomic fibers to communicate between the lower abdomen and pelvis.
Structure
The hypogastric nerves begin where the
superior hypogastric plexus
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. It bifurcates to form the left and the right hypog ...
splits into a right and left hypogastric nerves. The hypogastric nerves continue inferiorly on their corresponding side of the body, where they descends into the
pelvis
The pelvis (: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an Anatomy, anatomical Trunk (anatomy), trunk, between the human abdomen, abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also c ...
to form the
inferior hypogastric plexuses.
The hypogastric nerves likely contain three nerve fibers types:
*
Preganglionic
In the autonomic nervous system, nerve fibers from the central nervous system to the autonomic ganglion, ganglion are known as preganglionic nerve fibers. All preganglionic fibers, whether they are in the sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic d ...
and
postganglionic
In the autonomic nervous system, nerve fibers from the ganglion to the wikt:effector, effector organ are called postganglionic nerve fibers.
Neurotransmitters
The neurotransmitters of postganglionic fibers differ:
* In the parasympathetic div ...
sympathetic fibers descend from the
superior hypogastric plexus
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. It bifurcates to form the left and the right hypog ...
from
lumbar splanchnic nerves
The lumbar splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the lumbar ganglia (the lumbar part of the sympathetic trunk) and travel to an adjacent plexus near the aorta. They originate from L1 and L2. Together with fibres from the aorti ...
(from the
sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunk (sympathetic chain, gangliated cord) is a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. It is a major component of the sympathetic nervous system.
Structure
The sympathetic trunk lies just ...
at levels
L1-L2). Sympathetic fibers are the most numerous fibers in the hypogastric nerves.
*
Preganglionic
In the autonomic nervous system, nerve fibers from the central nervous system to the autonomic ganglion, ganglion are known as preganglionic nerve fibers. All preganglionic fibers, whether they are in the sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic d ...
parasympathetic
The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulat ...
fibers that originate from
pelvic splanchnic nerves
Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the organs of the pelvic cavity.
Structure
The pelvic splanchnic nerves arise from th ...
(sacral spinal nerves, S2-S4) ascend from the
inferior hypogastric plexuses into hypogastric nerves.
*
Visceral sensory fibers that project to the
lumbar spinal cord.
Clinical significance
The hypogastric nerve may be blocked for a
local anaesthetic
A local anesthetic (LA) is a medication that causes absence of all sense, sensation (including pain) in a specific body part without loss of consciousness, providing local anesthesia, as opposed to a general anesthetic, which eliminates all sen ...
.
This endangers the nearby
common iliac artery
The common iliac artery is a large artery of the abdomen paired on each side. It originates from the aortic bifurcation at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra. It ends in front of the sacroiliac joint, one on either side, and each bifurcates ...
and
common iliac vein
In human anatomy, the common iliac veins are formed by the external iliac veins and internal iliac veins. The left and right common iliac veins come together in the abdomen at the level of the lumbar vertebrae, fifth lumbar vertebra, forming the ...
.
See also
*
Superior hypogastric plexus
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. It bifurcates to form the left and the right hypog ...
*
Inferior hypogastric plexus
Inferior may refer to:
* Inferiority complex
* An anatomical term of location
* Inferior angle of the scapula, in the human skeleton
* ''Inferior'' (book), by Angela Saini
* '' The Inferior'', a 2007 novel by Peadar Ó Guilín
* Inferior good: ...
References
External links
* - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Abdominal Aorta and Paraaortic Nerve Plexus"
*
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060709234151/http://www.downstate.edu/ginzler-painmanagement/ginzler-painmanagement.htm
Sympathetic nervous system
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