The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus

Plexus

A plexus is a part of nervous system. Plexus has a slightly different definition in vertebrates and in invertebrates.- In vertebrates :In vertebrates, a plexus is an area where nerves branch and rejoin. The electrical signals do not mix; rather, the fibres travel together with their electrical...

 of nerve

Nerve

A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...

s situated on the vertebral bodies below the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta

Abdominal aorta

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta .-Path:...

.

Structure

The superior hypogastric plexus is situated around the abdominal aorta between the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery and the splitting of the abdominal aorta into the two common iliac arteries. It receives contributions from the two lower lumbar splanchnic nerves, which are branches of the ganglionated trunk (chain ganglia). This plexus continues down into the pelvis as the two pelvic nerves, which continue to form the inferior hypogastric plexus located within the pelvic basin. The inferior hypogastric plexus receives additional contributions from the sacral splanchnic branches of the ganglionated trunk and the pelvic splanchnic nerves from the anterior primary rami of S2-4.

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