Inferior hypogastric plexus

{{Short description|Autonomic nerve plexus in the pelvic cavity}}

{{Infobox nerve

| Name = Inferior hypogastric plexus

| Latin = plexus hypogastricus inferior

| Image = Gray838.png

| Caption = The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. (Pelvic plexus labeled at bottom right.)

| Image2 = Gray849.png

| Caption2 = Lower half of right sympathetic cord. (Hypogastric plexus labeled at bottom left.)

| Innervates =

| BranchFrom =

| BranchTo =

}}

The inferior hypogastric plexus (or pelvic plexus{{cite book |author=Yokochi, Chihiro |author2=Rohen, Johannes W. |author2-link=Rohen, Johannes W. |title=Color Atlas of Anatomy: A Photographic Study of the Human Body |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstown, MD |year=2006 |isbn=0-7817-9013-1 |page=346}}) is a paired autonomic nerve plexus innervating organs of the pelvic cavity.{{Cite web |title=inferior hypogastric plexus - Dictionnaire médical de l'Académie de Médecine |url=https://www.academie-medecine.fr/le-dictionnaire/index.php?q=plexus+pampiniformis |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.academie-medecine.fr}} It gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in females.

Anatomy

= Structure =

The plexus consists of an irregular, fenestrated layer containing small ganglia.

= Relations =

The inferior hypogastric plexus is situated in the sagittal plane just outside the peritoneum, between the anterior sacral foramina (posteriorly), and the posterior aspect of the urinary bladder (anteriorly). It is situated lateral to the rectum and vagina, and media lto the internal iliac artery and internal iliac vein of either side.

= Afferents =

= Efferents =

Efferents branches form secondary plexuses that accompany the internal iliac artery along its course. They give rise to the middle and inferior rectal plexuses, vesical plexus, deferential plexus, and prostatic plexus (in males) or uterovaginal plexus (in females).

= Distribution =

Efferents of the plexus are responsible for innervating the genital erectile tissues.

Clinical significance

Due to its location, injury to this structure can arise as a complication of pelvic surgeries and may cause urinary dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Testing of bladder function is used in that case to show a poorly compliant bladder, with bladder neck incompetence, and fixed external sphincter tone.{{cite book |title=CAMPBELL-WALSH UROLOGY, ed 11 |page=1781}}

Additional images

File:Gray847.png

See also

References

{{Gray's}}

{{Reflist}}