Nerve

Enclosed, cable-like bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system

This article is about nerves. For other uses, see Nerve (disambiguation).

Nerve

File:Nerves of the left upper extremity.gif

Nerves (yellow) in the arm

Details
System| Nervous system
Identifiers
Latin| nervus
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

[[[d:Script error: No such module "Wikidata".|edit on Wikidata]]]

A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons) in the peripheral nervous system.

A nerve transmits electrical impulses. It is the basic unit of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses called action potentials that are transmitted along each of the axons to peripheral organs or, in the case of sensory nerves, from the periphery back to the central nervous system. Each axon, within the nerve, is an extension of an individual neuron, along with other supportive cells such as some Schwann cells that coat the axons in myelin.

Within a nerve, each axon is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue called the endoneurium. The axons are bundled together into groups called fascicles, and each fascicle is wrapped in a layer of connective tissue called the perineurium. Finally, the entire nerve is wrapped in a layer of connective tissue called the epineurium. Nerve cells (often called neurons) are further classified as sensory, motor, or mixed nerves.

In the central nervous system, the analogous structures are known as nerve tracts.[1][2]

## Contents

* 1 Structure
* 1.1 Categories
* 1.2 Terminology
* 2 Development
* 2.1 Regeneration
* 3 Function
* 3.1 Nervous system
* 4 Clinical significance
* 5 Other animals
* 6 History
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## Structure[edit | edit source]

File:1319 Nerve StructureN.jpg

Cross-section of a nerve

Each nerve is covered on the outside by a dense sheath of connective tissue, the epineurium. Beneath this is a layer of fat cells, the perineurium, which forms a complete sleeve around a bundle of axons. Perineurial septae extend into the nerve and subdivide it into several bundles of fibres. Surrounding each such fibre is the endoneurium. This forms an unbroken tube from the surface of the spinal cord to the level where the axon synapses with its muscle fibres, or ends in sensory receptors. The endoneurium consists of an inner sleeve of material called the glycocalyx and an outer, delicate, meshwork of collagen fibres.[2] Nerves are bundled and often travel along with blood vessels, since the neurons of a nerve have fairly high energy requirements.

Within the endoneurium, the individual nerve fibres are surrounded by a low-protein liquid called endoneurial fluid. This acts in a similar way to the cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system and constitutes a blood-nerve barrier similar to the blood-brain barrier.[3] Molecules are thereby prevented from crossing the blood into the endoneurial fluid. During the development of nerve edema from nerve irritation (or injury), the amount of endoneurial fluid may increase at the site of irritation. This increase in fluid can be visualized using magnetic resonance neurography, and thus MR neurography can identify nerve irritation and/or injury.

### Categories[edit | edit source]

Nerves are categorized into three groups based on the direction that signals are conducted:

* Afferent nerves conduct signals from sensory neurons to the central nervous system, for example from the mechanoreceptors in skin.
* Efferent nerves conduct signals from the central nervous system along motor neurons to their target muscles and glands.
* Mixed nerves contain both afferent and efferent axons, and thus conduct both incoming sensory information and outgoing muscle commands in the same bundle. All spinal nerves are mixed nerves, and some of the cranial nerves are also mixed nerves.

Nerves can be categorized into two groups based on where they connect to the central nervous system:

* Spinal nerves innervate (distribute to/stimulate) much of the body, and connect through the vertebral column to the spinal cord and thus to the central nervous system. They are given letter-number designations according to the vertebra through which they connect to the spinal column.
* Cranial nerves innervate parts of the head, and connect directly to the brain (especially to the brainstem). They are typically assigned Roman numerals from 1 to 12, although cranial nerve zero is sometimes included. In addition, cranial nerves have descriptive names.

### Terminology[edit | edit source]

Main article: Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Specific terms are used to describe nerves and their actions. A nerve that supplies information to the brain from an area of the body, or controls an action of the body is said to "innervate" that section of the body or organ. Other terms relate to whether the nerve affects the same side ("ipsilateral") or opposite side ("contralateral") of the body, to the part of the brain that supplies it.

## Development[edit | edit source]

Nerve growth normally ends in adolescence, but can be re-stimulated with a molecular mechanism known as "Notch signaling".[4]

### Regeneration[edit | edit source]

If the axons of a neuron are damaged, as long as the cell body of the neuron is not damaged, the axons can regenerate and remake the synaptic connections with neurons with the help of guidepost cells. This is also referred to as neuroregeneration.[5]

The nerve begins the process by destroying the nerve distal to the site of injury allowing Schwann cells, basal lamina, and the neurilemma near the injury to begin producing a regeneration tube. Nerve growth factors are produced causing many nerve sprouts to bud. When one of the growth processes finds the regeneration tube, it begins to grow rapidly towards its original destination guided the entire time by the regeneration tube. Nerve regeneration is very slow and can take up to several months to complete. While this process does repair some nerves, there will still be some functional deficit as the repairs are not perfect.[6]

## Function[edit | edit source]

A nerve conveys information in the form of electrochemical impulses (as nerve impulses known as action potentials) carried by the individual neurons that make up the nerve. These impulses are extremely fast, with some myelinated neurons conducting at speeds up to 120 m/s. The impulses travel from one neuron to another by crossing a synapse, where the message is converted from electrical to chemical and then back to electrical.[2][1]

Nerves can be categorized into two groups based on function:

* An afferent nerve fiber conducts sensory information from a sensory neuron to the central nervous system, where the information is then processed. Bundles of fibres or axons, in the peripheral nervous system are called nerves, and bundles of afferent fibers are known as sensory nerves.[1][2]
* An efferent nerve fiber conducts signals from a motor neuron in the central nervous system to muscles. Bundles of these fibres are known as efferent nerves.

### Nervous system[edit | edit source]

Main article: Nervous system

The nervous system is the part of an animal that coordinates its actions by transmitting signals to and from different parts of its body.[7] In vertebrates it consists of two main parts, the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS consists of the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The PNS consists mainly of nerves, which are enclosed bundles of the long fibers or axons, that connect the CNS to all remaining body parts.

Nerves that transmit signals from the CNS are called motor or efferent nerves, while those nerves that transmit information from the body to the CNS are called sensory or afferent. Spinal nerves serve both functions and are called mixed nerves. The PNS is divided into three separate subsystems, the somatic, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems. Somatic nerves mediate voluntary movement.

The autonomic nervous system is further subdivided into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in cases of emergencies to mobilize energy, while the parasympathetic nervous system is activated when organisms are in a relaxed state. The enteric nervous system functions to control the gastrointestinal system. Both autonomic and enteric nervous systems function involuntarily. Nerves that exit from the cranium are called cranial nerves while those exiting from the spinal cord are called spinal nerves.

## Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

File:Prostatic adenocarcinoma with perineural invasion.JPG

Micrograph demonstrating perineural invasion of prostate cancer. H&E stain.

Cancer can spread by invading the spaces around nerves. This is particularly common in head and neck cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

Nerves can be damaged by physical injury as well as conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury. Autoimmune diseases such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, polyneuropathy, infection, neuritis, diabetes, or failure of the blood vessels surrounding the nerve all cause nerve damage, which can vary in severity.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease associated with extensive nerve damage. It occurs when the macrophages of an individual's own immune system damage the myelin sheaths that insulate the axon of the nerve.

A pinched nerve occurs when pressure is placed on a nerve, usually from swelling due to an injury, or pregnancy and can result in pain, weakness, numbness or paralysis, an example being carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms can be felt in areas far from the actual site of damage, a phenomenon called referred pain. Referred pain can happen when the damage causes altered signalling to other areas.

Neurologists usually diagnose disorders of nerves by a physical examination, including the testing of reflexes, walking and other directed movements, muscle weakness, proprioception, and the sense of touch. This initial exam can be followed with tests such as nerve conduction study, electromyography (EMG), and computed tomography (CT).[8]

## Other animals[edit | edit source]

A neuron is called identified if it has properties that distinguish it from every other neuron in the same animal—properties such as location, neurotransmitter, gene expression pattern, and connectivity—and if every individual organism belonging to the same species has exactly one neuron with the same set of properties.[9] In vertebrate nervous systems, very few neurons are "identified" in this sense. Researchers believe humans have none—but in simpler nervous systems, some or all neurons may be thus unique.[10]

In vertebrates, the best known identified neurons are the gigantic Mauthner cells of fish.[11]: 38–44 Every fish has two Mauthner cells, located in the bottom part of the brainstem, one on the left side and one on the right. Each Mauthner cell has an axon that crosses over, innervating (stimulating) neurons at the same brain level and then travelling down through the spinal cord, making numerous connections as it goes. The synapses generated by a Mauthner cell are so powerful that a single action potential gives rise to a major behavioral response: within milliseconds the fish curves its body into a C-shape, then straightens, thereby propelling itself rapidly forward. Functionally this is a fast escape response, triggered most easily by a strong sound wave or pressure wave impinging on the lateral line organ of the fish. Mauthner cells are not the only identified neurons in fish—there are about 20 more types, including pairs of "Mauthner cell analogs" in each spinal segmental nucleus. Although a Mauthner cell is capable of bringing about an escape response all by itself, in the context of ordinary behavior other types of cells usually contribute to shaping the amplitude and direction of the response.

Mauthner cells have been described as command neurons. A command neuron is a special type of identified neuron, defined as a neuron that is capable of driving a specific behavior all by itself.[11]: 112 Such neurons appear most commonly in the fast escape systems of various species—the squid giant axon and squid giant synapse, used for pioneering experiments in neurophysiology because of their enormous size, both participate in the fast escape circuit of the squid. The concept of a command neuron has, however, become controversial, because of studies showing that some neurons that initially appeared to fit the description were really only capable of evoking a response in a limited set of circumstances.[12]

In organisms of radial symmetry, nerve nets serve for the nervous system. There is no brain or centralised head region, and instead there are interconnected neurons spread out in nerve nets. These are found in Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Echinodermata.

## History[edit | edit source]

Further information: History of neurology and neurosurgery

Herophilos 335–280 BC, described the optic nerve and the oculomotor nerve for sight and eye movement. Analysis of the nerves in the cranium allowed him to differentiate between blood vessels and nerves i.e. Ancient Greek: νεῦρον (neûron), “string (plant fiber), nerve”.

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Connective tissue in the peripheral nervous system
* Dermatome (anatomy)
* List of nerves of the human body
* Nerve injury
* Nervous system
* Neuropathy
* Peripheral nerve injury
* Peripheral nerve injury classification

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c Purves, Dale; Augustine, George J.; Fitzpatrick, David; Hall, William C.; LaMantia, Anthony-Samuel; McNamara, James O.; White, Leonard E. (2008). Neuroscience (4 ed.). Sinauer Associates. pp. 11–20. ISBN 978-0-87893-697-7.
2. ^ a b c d Marieb EN, Hoehn K (2007). Human Anatomy & Physiology (7th ed.). Pearson. pp. 388–602. ISBN 978-0-8053-5909-1.
3. ^ Kanda, T (Feb 2013). "Biology of the blood-nerve barrier and its alteration in immune mediated neuropathies". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 84 (2): 208–212. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2012-302312. PMID 23243216. S2CID 207005110.
4. ^ Yale Study Shows Way To Re-Stimulate Brain Cell Growth ScienceDaily Archived 2017-07-07 at the Wayback Machine (Oct. 22, 1999) — Results Could Boost Understanding Of Alzheimer's, Other Brain Disorders
5. ^ Kunik, D (2011). "Laser-based single-axon transection for high-content axon injury and regeneration studies". PLOS ONE. 6 (11): e26832. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...626832K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026832. PMC 3206876. PMID 22073205.
6. ^ Burnett, Mark; Zager, Eric. "Pathophysiology of Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Brief Review: Nerve Regeneration". Medscape Article. Medscape. Archived from the original on 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
7. ^ Tortora, G.J., Derrickson, B. (2016). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (15th edition). J. Wiley. ISBN 978-1-119-34373-8.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ^ Weinberg. Normal computed tomography of the brain. p. 109.[full citation needed]
9. ^ Hoyle G, Wiersma CA (1977). Identified neurons and behavior of arthropods. Plenum Press. ISBN 978-0-306-31001-0.
10. ^ "Wormbook: Specification of the nervous system". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
11. ^ a b Stein, PSG (1999). Neurons, Networks, and Motor Behavior. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-69227-4.
12. ^ Simmons PJ, Young D (1999). Nerve Cells and Animal Behaviour. Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-521-62726-9.

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Nervous system William E. Skaggs, Scholarpedia
* Bear, M. F.; B. W. Connors; M. A. Paradiso (2006). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott. ISBN 0-7817-6003-8.
* Binder, Marc D.; Hirokawa, Nobutaka; Windhorst, Uwe, eds. (2009). Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-23735-8.
* Kandel, ER; Schwartz JH; Jessell TM (2012). Principles of Neural Science (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-8385-7701-1.
* Squire, L. et al. (2012). Fundamental Neuroscience, 4th edition. Academic Press; ISBN 0-12-660303-0
* Andreasen, Nancy C. (March 4, 2004). Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-514509-0.
* Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.  New York, Avon Books. ISBN 0-399-13894-3 (Hardcover) ISBN 0-380-72647-5 (Paperback)
* Gardner, H. (1976). The Shattered Mind: The Person After Brain Damage.  New York, Vintage Books, 1976 ISBN 0-394-71946-8
* Goldstein, K. (2000). The Organism.  New York, Zone Books. ISBN 0-942299-96-5 (Hardcover) ISBN 0-942299-97-3 (Paperback)
* Lauwereyns, Jan (February 2010). The Anatomy of Bias: How Neural Circuits Weigh the Options. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-12310-5.

## External links[edit | edit source]

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nerves.

Information about
Nerve

* * *

* Resources in your library

* List of nerves
* File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg The Nervous System at Wikibooks (human)
* File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg Nervous System at Wikibooks (non-human)

* v
* t
* e

Human systems and organs

Musculoskeletal system|

| Skeletal system|

* Bone
* Carpus
* Collar bone (clavicle)
* Thigh bone (femur)
* Fibula
* Humerus
* Mandible
* Metacarpus
* Metatarsus
* Ossicles
* Patella
* Phalanges
* Radius
* Skull
* Tarsus
* Tibia
* Ulna
* Rib
* Vertebra
* Pelvis
* Sternum
* Cartilage

|

Joints|

* Fibrous joint
* Cartilaginous joint
* Synovial joint

Muscular system|

* Muscle
* Tendon
* Diaphragm

Circulatory system|

| Cardiovascular system|

* peripheral
* Artery
* Vein
* Lymphatic vessel
* Heart

|

Lymphatic system|

* primary
* Bone marrow
* Thymus
* secondary
* Spleen
* Lymph node
* CNS equivalent
* Glymphatic system

Nervous system|

*     * Brain
* Spinal cord
* Nerve
* Sensory system
* Ear
* Eye
* Somatic system

Integumentary system|

* Skin
* Subcutaneous tissue
* Breast
* Mammary gland

Haematopoietic and immune systems|

* Myeloid
* Myeloid immune system
* Lymphoid
* Lymphoid immune system

Respiratory system|

* Upper
* Nose
* Nasopharynx
* Larynx
* Lower
* Trachea
* Bronchus
* Lung

Digestive system|

* Mouth
* Salivary gland
* Tongue
* Lips
* Tooth
* upper GI
* Oropharynx
* Laryngopharynx
* Esophagus
* Stomach
* lower GI
* Small intestine
* Appendix
* Colon
* Rectum
* Anus
* accessory
* Liver
* Biliary tract
* Pancreas

Urinary system|

* Genitourinary system
* Kidney
* Ureter
* Bladder
* Urethra

Reproductive system|

* Male
* Scrotum
* Penis
* Size
* Prostate
* Testicle
* Seminal vesicle
* Female
* Uterus
* Vagina
* Vulva
* Ovary
* Placenta

Endocrine system|

* Pituitary
* Pineal
* Thyroid
* Parathyroid
* Adrenal
* Islets of Langerhans

* v
* t
* e

Spinal nerves

Cervical|

* C1
* C2
* C3
* C4
* C5
* C6
* C7
* C8

* anterior
* Cervical plexus
* Brachial plexus
* posterior
* Posterior branches of cervical nerves
* Suboccipital – C1
* Greater occipital – C2
* Third occipital – C3

Thoracic|

* T1
* T2
* T3
* T4
* T5
* T6
* T7
* T8
* T9
* T10
* T11
* T12

* anterior
* Intercostal
* Intercostobrachial – T2
* Thoraco-abdominal nerves – T7–T11
* Subcostal – T12
* posterior
* Posterior branches of thoracic nerves

Lumbar|

* L1
* L2
* L3
* L4
* L5

* anterior
* Lumbar plexus
* Lumbosacral trunk
* posterior
* Posterior branches of the lumbar nerves
* Superior cluneal L1–L3

Sacral|

* S1
* S2
* S3
* S4
* S5

* anterior
* Sacral plexus
* posterior
* Posterior branches of sacral nerves
* Medial cluneal nerves

Coccygeal|

* anterior
* Coccygeal plexus
* posterior
* Posterior branch of coccygeal nerve

* v
* t
* e

The cranial nerves

Terminal (CN 0)|

* Nuclei
* septal nuclei
* Course
* no significant branches

Olfactory (CN I)|

* Nuclei
* anterior olfactory nucleus
* Course
* olfactory bulb
* olfactory tract

Optic (CN II)|

* Nuclei
* lateral geniculate nucleus
* Course
* optic chiasm
* optic tract

Oculomotor (CN III)|

* Nuclei
* oculomotor nucleus
* Edinger–Westphal nucleus
* Branches
* superior
* parasympathetic root of ciliary ganglion
* inferior

Trochlear (CN IV)|

* Nucleus
* Branches
* no significant branches

Trigeminal (CN V)|

* Nuclei
* PSN
* spinal trigeminal nucleus
* MN
* TMN
* Course
* trigeminal ganglion
* Branches
* ophthalmic
* maxillary
* mandibular

Abducens (CN VI)|

* Nucleus
* Branches
* no significant branches

Facial (CN VII)|

| Near origin|

* Intermediate nerve
* Geniculate

|

Inside
facial canal|

* Greater petrosal
* pterygopalatine ganglion
* Nerve to the stapedius
* Chorda tympani
* lingual nerve
* submandibular ganglion

At stylomastoid
foramen|

* Posterior auricular
* Suprahyoid
* digastric
* stylohyoid
* Parotid plexus
* temporal
* zygomatic
* buccal
* mandibular
* cervical

Nuclei|

* Facial motor nucleus
* Solitary nucleus
* Superior salivary nucleus

Vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)|

* Nuclei
* vestibular nuclei
* cochlear nuclei
* Cochlear nerve
* striae medullares
* lateral lemniscus
* Vestibular
* Scarpa's ganglion

Glossopharyngeal (CN IX)|

| Before jugular fossa|

* Ganglia
* superior
* inferior

|

After jugular fossa|

* Tympanic
* tympanic plexus
* lesser petrosal
* otic ganglion
* Stylopharyngeal branch
* Pharyngeal branches
* Tonsillar branches
* Lingual branches
* Carotid sinus

Nuclei|

* Nucleus ambiguus
* Inferior salivatory nucleus
* Solitary nucleus

Vagus (CN X)|

| Before jugular fossa|

* Ganglia
* superior
* inferior

|

After jugular fossa|

* Meningeal branch
* Auricular branch

Neck|

* Pharyngeal branch
* pharyngeal plexus
* Superior laryngeal
* external
* internal
* Recurrent laryngeal
* Superior cervical cardiac

Thorax|

* Inferior cardiac
* Pulmonary
* Vagal trunks
* anterior
* posterior

Abdomen|

* Celiac
* Renal
* Hepatic
* Anterior gastric
* Posterior gastric

Nuclei|

* Nucleus ambiguus
* Dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve
* Solitary nucleus

Accessory (CN XI)|

* Nuclei
* nucleus ambiguus
* spinal accessory nucleus
* Cranial
* Spinal

Hypoglossal (CN XII)|

* Nucleus
* Branches
* lingual

* v
* t
* e

Nerves of the cervical plexus

Superficial|

Lesser occipital

C2–C3
Greater auricular
Transverse cervical

C3–C4
Supraclavicular

Deep|

C1–C3
Ansa cervicalis

superior root
inferior root

C3–C5
Phrenic

* v
* t
* e

Nerve supply of the human arm

Supraclavicular|

* root (dorsal scapular, long thoracic)
* upper trunk (suprascapular, to the subclavius)

Infraclavicular|

| lateral cord|

* lateral pectoral
* ansa pectoralis

* musculocutaneous (lateral cutaneous of forearm)

* median/lateral root: anterior interosseous
* palmar
* recurrent
* common palmar digital (proper palmar digital)

|

medial cord|

* medial pectoral
* ansa pectoralis

* cutaneous: medial cutaneous of forearm
* medial cutaneous of arm

* ulnar: muscular
* palmar
* dorsal (dorsal digital nerves)
* superficial (common palmar digital, proper palmar digital)
* deep

* median/medial root: see above

posterior cord|

* subscapular (upper, lower)
* thoracodorsal

* axillary (superior lateral cutaneous of arm)

* radial: muscular
* cutaneous (posterior of arm, inferior lateral of arm, posterior of forearm)
* superficial (dorsal digital nerves)
* deep (posterior interosseous)

Other|

* Brachial plexus

* v
* t
* e

Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system

Head|

| Sympathetic|

* Cervical ganglia: roots
* long ciliary
* Deep petrosal

|

Parasympathetic|

* Ciliary ganglion
* Roots
* Short ciliary

* Pterygopalatine ganglion
* deep petrosal
* nerve of pterygoid canal

* branches of distribution: greater palatine
* inferior posterior nasal branches
* lesser palatine
* nasopalatine
* medial superior posterior nasal branches
* pharyngeal

* Submandibular ganglion

* Otic ganglion

Neck|

| Sympathetic|

* paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia
* Superior
* Middle
* Inferior
* Stellate ganglion

* prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus
* Internal carotid

|

Chest|

| Sympathetic|

* paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia

* prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus
* Esophageal plexus
* Pulmonary plexus
* Thoracic aortic plexus

* splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary
* thoracic

* cardiac nerves: Superior
* Middle
* Inferior

|

Abdomen|

| Sympathetic|

* paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia

* prevertebral ganglia:
* Celiac ganglia
* Aorticorenal
* Superior mesenteric ganglion
* Inferior mesenteric ganglion

* prevertebral plexus:
* Celiac plexus
* Hepatic
* Splenic
* Pancreatic

* aorticorenal
* Abdominal aortic plexus
* Renal/Suprarenal
* Superior mesenteric
* Gastric
* Inferior mesenteric
* Spermatic
* Ovarian
* Superior hypogastric
* hypogastric nerve
* Superior rectal
* Inferior hypogastric
* Vesical
* Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis
* Uterovaginal
* Middle rectal

* splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves

|

Enteric|

* Submucous plexus
* Myenteric plexus

Pelvis|

| Sympathetic|

* paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia
* Ganglion impar

* splanchnic nerves: Sacral splanchnic nerves

|

Parasympathetic|

* splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves

* Category Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Nerves of the lumbosacral plexus

Lumbar plexus|

| iliohypogastric|

* lateral cutaneous branch
* anterior cutaneous branch

|

ilioinguinal|

* anterior scrotal ♂/labial ♀

genitofemoral|

* femoral branch
* genital branch

Lateral cutaneous |

* patellar

obturator|

* anterior
* cutaneous
* posterior
* accessory

femoral|

* anterior cutaneous branches
* saphenous
* infrapatellar
* medial crural cutaneous

sacral plexus|

| sciatic|

| common fibular |

* lateral sural cutaneous
* communicating branch
* deep fibular
* lateral terminal branch
* medial terminal branch
* dorsal digital
* superficial fibular
* medial dorsal cutaneous
* intermediate dorsal cutaneous
* dorsal digital

|

tibial|

* medial sural cutaneous
* medial calcaneal
* medial plantar (common plantar digital nerves
* proper plantar digital)
* lateral plantar (deep branch
* superficial branch
* common plantar digital
* proper plantar digital)

sural|

* lateral dorsal cutaneous
* lateral calcaneal

other|

* Muscular
* superior gluteal
* inferior gluteal
* lateral rotator group (to quadratus femoris
* to obturator internus
* to the piriformis)
cutaneous: posterior cutaneous of thigh (inferior cluneal
* perineal branches)
* perforating cutaneous

coccygeal plexus|

* pudendal
* inferior anal
* perineal
* deep
* posterior scrotal♂ / labial♀
* dorsal of the penis♂ / clitoris♀
* anococcygeal

Related|

* Nerve supply of the human leg

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