Sacral splanchnic nerves

Nervi splanchnici sacrales

Definition

Sacral splanchnic nerves are visceral branches of the sacral portions of sympathetic trunks. They arise from the four sacral ganglia, on either side of the body, and extend ventrally and medially to terminate in the inferior hypogastric plexus.

Like most other splanchnic nerves, the sacral splanchnic nerves contain pre-ganglionic sympathetic neurons, which arise from the T10 to L2 lateral horns of spinal cord. They descend within the sympathetic chain and traverse un-relayed through the sacral portion of sympathetic trunk. Upon reaching the inferior hypogastric plexus, some of the pre-ganglionic neurons could ascend via the inferior hypogastric nerves and superior hypogastric plexus to reach out to the aortic and inferior mesenteric plexuses. They end up innervating the hindgut by synapsing in the Meissner’s and myenteric plexuses. Those pre-ganglionic neurons which remain behind in the inferior hypogastric and pelvic plexuses, end up providing sympathetic innervation to the pelvic vessels and organs in that region (along with the parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves).

Please note that the sacral splanchnic nerves also contain sensory visceral afferent neurons which follow the course of the sympathetic fibers, en-route to spinal cord.

 

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.

  • McCausland, C. and Sajjad, H. Anatomy, Back, Splanchnic Nerve. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549856/

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 5: Pelvis ’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 469-471.


Comparative anatomy in animals

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