Hypogastric nerve

Hypogastric nerve
Hypogastric nerve
	Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses. (Hypogastric nerve visible but not labeled.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	nervus hypogastricus
TA98	A14.3.03.047
TA2	6714
FMA	77596
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

The hypogastric nerve is the nerve that transitions between the superior hypogastric plexus and the inferior hypogastric plexus. The hypogastric nerve enters the sympathetic chain at T12-L3.

Structure[]

The hypogastric nerve begins where the superior hypogastric plexus splits into a right and left plexus. Each of these divisions is considered a hypogastric nerve. The hypogastric nerve continues inferiorly on its corresponding side of the body, where it descends into the pelvis to form the inferior hypogastric plexus. Contents of the right and left hypogastric nerves include preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic fibers from vertebral levels of T10 to L2,^[1] passing through the spinal nerve roots of T12-L3.^[2]

The hypogastric nerve provides sympathetic innervation.^[3]^[4] It is responsible for the emission of semen into the posterior urethra. Emission is the first phase of male ejaculation (followed by the second phase, expulsion).^[3] In contrast, erection is mediated primarily by the parasympathetic nervous system via pelvic splanchnic nerves.^[4]

Clinical significance[]

The hypogastric nerve may be blocked for a local anaesthetic.^[5] This endangers the nearby common iliac artery and common iliac vein.^[5]

References[]

^ Reeves, Fairleigh; Everaerts, Wouter; Murphy, Declan G.; Costello, Anthony (2016-01-01), Mydlo, Jack H.; Godec, Ciril J. (eds.), "Chapter 29 - The Surgical Anatomy of the Prostate", Prostate Cancer (Second Edition), San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 253–263, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800077-9.00029-3, ISBN 978-0-12-800077-9, retrieved 2021-02-06
^ Ahuja, Vanita (2011-01-01), Gearhart, Susan L.; Ahuja, Nita (eds.), "14 - Open Surgical Techniques in Colorectal Cancer", Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer Series: Colorectal Cancer, Saint Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 145–165, ISBN 978-1-4160-4686-8, retrieved 2021-02-06
^ ^a ^b Alwaal, Amjad; Breyer, Benjamin N.; Lue, Tom F. (November 2015). "Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation". Fertility and Sterility. 1053 (5): 1053. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033. PMC 4896089. PMID 26385403.
^ ^a ^b Le, Bhushhan, Hoffman. First Aid for the USMLE Step1. p.613. 2019.
^ ^a ^b Waldman, Steven D. (2007-01-01), Waldman, Steven D.; Bloch, Joseph I. (eds.), "chapter 161 - Hypogastric Plexus Block and Impar Ganglion Block", Pain Management, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 1350–1357, ISBN 978-0-7216-0334-6, retrieved 2021-02-06