Corpus: Hypogastric nerve

The term hypogastric nerve refers to the junction between the superior hypogastric plexus and the inferior hypogastric plexus.

The hypogastric nerve begins where the superior hypogastric plexus splits into a right and a left fibre group. Each of these parts is then called the hypogastric nerve. The sympathetic fibres descend towards the small pelvis and reunite caudally to form the inferior hypogastric plexus.

In addition to the descending sympathetic fibres, the hypogastric nerves also contain parasympathetic fibres from the pelvic splanchnic nerves.

The two hypogastric nerves carry pre- and postganglionic sympathetic fibres from segments Th10 to L2.

• Kirschniak et al. Laparoscopy in further surgical training, Springer Verlag, 2017