title: Morphostructure and topography of the pelvic plexus in the sheep, with particular consideration of the hypogastric nerve.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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*