The anococcygeal nerve is a
nerve in the
pelvis which provides sensory innervation to the skin over the
coccyx
The coccyx ( : coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horses. In tailless primates (e.g. humans and othe ...
. The number of anococcygeal nerves vary between one and three.
Structure
The anococcygeal nerve arises from the
coccygeal plexus
The coccygeal plexus is a nerve plexus near the coccyx bone.
Structure
This plexus is formed by the ventral rami
The ventral ramus (pl. ''rami'') (Latin for ''branch'') is the anterior division of a spinal nerve. The ventral rami supply the ant ...
.
It pierces the
sacrotuberous ligament to supply the skin in the region of the
coccyx
The coccyx ( : coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horses. In tailless primates (e.g. humans and othe ...
as well as the
sacrococcygeal joint
The sacrococcygeal symphysis (sacrococcygeal articulation, articulation of the sacrum and coccyx) is an amphiarthrodial joint, formed between the oval surface at the apex of the sacrum, and the base of the coccyx.
It is a slightly moveable jointM ...
.
See also
*
Coccyx
The coccyx ( : coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horses. In tailless primates (e.g. humans and othe ...
*
Coccydynia (coccyx pain, tailbone pain)
*
Ganglion impar
The pelvic portion of each sympathetic trunk is situated in front of the sacrum, medial to the anterior sacral foramina. It consists of four or five small sacral ganglia, connected together by interganglionic cords, and continuous above with the ab ...
*
Sacral plexus
In human anatomy, the sacral plexus is a nerve plexus which provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg and foot, and part of the pelvis. It is part of the lumbosacral plexus and emerges from the lumbar verte ...
References
External links
Coccyx pain, tailbone pain, coccydynia(Peer-reviewed medical chapter, available free online at eMedicine)
Nerves of the lower limb and lower torso
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