Morphostructure and topography of the pelvic plexus in the sheep, with particular consideration of the hypogastric nerve.
The anatomical structure and topography of the pelvic plexus were studied in 16 bodies of sheep of both sexes (9 males and 7 females). The studies showed that this plexus originates from sympathetic fibres running from the L3-L7 and S1-S4 ganglia of the lumbosacral section of the sympathetic trunk and parasympathetic fibres (S2-S4) given off by the abdominal branches of the sacral spinal nerves. Distinct individual differences were found in its structure and topography, especially as regards the vegetative ganglia, which are not a constant element of the plexus and show variations. This has provided a basis for the differentiation of two anatomical types of plexus: I, the ganglionic, appearing in 68.7% of specimens and II, the non-ganglionic, present in only 31.2% of specimens.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007001:Hypogastric Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology*