Pelvic splanchnic nerves

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Nerve: Pelvic splanchnic nerves
Latin	nervi pelvici splanchnici nervi erigentes
From	S2-S4
Dorlands/Elsevier	r_02/12687960

Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the hindgut.

1 Structure
2 In Popular Culture
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Structure

The pelvic splanchnic nerves arise as branches of spinal nerves S2-S4 (which are part of the sacral plexus). They travel to their side's corresponding inferior hypogastric plexus, located on the side of the rectum.

From there, they contribute to the innervation of the pelvic and genital organs. The nerves regulate the emptying of the urinary bladder and the rectum as well as sexual functions like erection.

They contain both preganglionic parasympathetic fibers as well as visceral afferent fibers.

The parasympathetic nervous system is referred to as the craniosacral outflow; the pelvic splanchnic nerves are the sacral component. They are in the same region as the sacral splanchnic nerves, which arise from the sympathetic trunk and provide sympathetic efferent fibers.

Proximal to the splenic flexure of the transverse colon, the gastrointestinal tract is supplied its parasympathetic fibers by the vagus nerve. Distal to the splenic flexure, the pelvic splanchnic nerves take over.

[edit] In Popular Culture

In the Futurama episode, Parasites Lost, the Professor creates a plan to enter Fry using micro-droids and stimulate the "pelvic splanchnic ganglion" to cause a large bowel movement, to remove a worm infestation from him.