The hypogastric nerve is the nerve that transitions between 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. Structure From the plexus, sympathetic fibers are ca ...

and the

inferior hypogastric plexus The inferior hypogastric plexus (pelvic plexus in some texts) is a network () of nerves that supplies the organs of the pelvic cavity. The inferior hypogastric plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in female ...

. The hypogastric nerve enters the

sympathetic chain The sympathetic trunks (sympathetic chain, gangliated cord) are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. They are a major component of the sympathetic nervous system. Structure The sympathetic trunk lies j ...

at T12- L3.

Structure

The hypogastric nerve begins where the

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 The pelvis (plural pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also called bony pelvis, or pelvic skeleton). The ...

to form the

. Contents of the right and left hypogastric nerves include preganglionic and postganglionic sympathetic fibers from vertebral levels of T10 to L2, passing through the spinal nerve roots of T12- L3. The hypogastric nerve provides

sympathetic innervation The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the parasympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the ...

.Le, Bhushhan, Hoffman. First Aid for the USMLE Step1. p.613. 2019. It is responsible for the emission of

semen Semen, also known as seminal fluid, is an organic bodily fluid created to contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads (sexual glands) and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize the female ovum. Semen i ...

into the posterior

urethra The urethra (from Greek οὐρήθρα – ''ourḗthrā'') is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the urinary meatus for the removal of urine from the body of both females and males. In human females and other primates, the urethra con ...

. Emission is the first phase of male

ejaculation Ejaculation is the discharge of semen (the ''ejaculate''; normally containing sperm) from the male reproductory tract as a result of an orgasm. It is the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential componen ...

(followed by the second phase, expulsion). In contrast,

erection An erection (clinically: penile erection or penile tumescence) is a physiological phenomenon in which the penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular, ...

is mediated primarily by the

parasympathetic nervous system 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 enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of ...

via

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 t ...

Clinical significance

The hypogastric nerve may be blocked for a

local anaesthetic A local anesthetic (LA) is a medication that causes absence of pain sensation. In the context of surgery, a local anesthetic creates an absence of pain in a specific location of the body without a loss of consciousness, as opposed to a general an ...

. 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 i ...

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 fifth lumbar vertebra, forming the inferior vena ...

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 {{Neuroanatomy-stub

Structure

Clinical significance

See also

References

External links