Superimposed image of the spinal plexuses on a human back.
Identifiers
TA2
6172
FMA
5901
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
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A nerve plexus is a plexus (branching network) of intersecting nerves.[1] A nerve plexus is composed of afferent and efferent fibers that arise from the merging of the anterior rami of spinal nerves and blood vessels. There are five spinal nerve plexuses, except in the thoracic region, as well as other forms of autonomic plexuses, many of which are a part of the enteric nervous system. The nerves that arise from the plexuses have both sensory and motor functions. These functions include muscle contraction, the maintenance of body coordination and control, and the reaction to sensations such as heat, cold, pain, and pressure. There are several plexuses in the body, including:
Spinal plexuses
Cervical plexus - serves the head, neck and shoulders
Brachial plexus - serves the chest, shoulders, arms and hands
Lumbosacral plexus
Lumbar plexus - serves the back, abdomen, groin, thighs, knees, and calves
Subsartorial plexus - below the sartorius muscle of thigh
Sacral plexus - serves the pelvis, buttocks, genitals, thighs, calves, and feet
Pudendal plexus
Coccygeal plexus - serves a small region over the coccyx
brachial plexus is a network of nerves (nerveplexus) formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve (C5, C6,...
The celiac plexus, also known as the solar plexus because of its radiating nerve fibers, is a complex network of nerves located in the abdomen, near where...
interneurons in the enteric nervous system. The plexus is the parasympathetic nucleus of origin for the vagus nerve and communicates with the medulla oblongata...
with adjacent anterior rami to form a nerveplexus, a network of interconnecting nerves. Nerves emerging from a plexus contain fibers from various spinal...
In human anatomy, the sacral plexus is a nerveplexus which provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg and foot,...
plexuses. Alternatively, the Latin plural plexūs may be used. The four primary nerveplexuses are the cervical plexus, brachial plexus, lumbar plexus...
cervical plexus is a nerveplexus of the anterior rami of the first (i.e. upper-most) four cervical spinal nerves C1-C4. The cervical plexus provides...
The lumbar plexus is a web of nerves (a nerveplexus) in the lumbar region of the body which forms part of the larger lumbosacral plexus. It is formed...
pharyngeal plexus is a nerveplexus located upon the outer surface of the pharynx. It contains a motor component (derived from the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X))...
some sympathetic nerve fibers. Although the nerve receives contributions from nerve roots of the cervical plexus and the brachial plexus, it is usually...
sciatic nerve, also called the ischiadic nerve, is a large nerve in humans and other vertebrate animals. It is the largest branch of the sacral plexus and...
nerve (vagus nerve), located in the medulla oblongata. The fibers are carried by both the anterior and posterior vagal nerves. The myenteric plexus is...
originates from the cardiac branches of the vagus nerve. The superficial part of the cardiac plexus lies beneath the aortic arch, in front of the right...
the lumbar nerves, sacral nerves, and coccygeal nerve form the lumbosacral plexus, the first lumbar nerve being frequently joined by a branch from the twelfth...
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from...
The suprascapular nerve is a mixed (sensory and motor) nerve that branches from the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. It is derived from the ventral...
lumbar plexus. The femoral nerve is the major nerve supplying the anterior compartment of the thigh. It is the largest branch of the lumbar plexus, and...
median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus. The median...
The long thoracic nerve (also: external respiratory nerve of Bell or posterior thoracic nerve) is a branch of the brachial plexus derived from cervical...
nerve is usually 1-2 mm thick. The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a nerve of the lumbar plexus. It arises from the posterior rami of the second and...
The axillary nerve or the circumflex nerve is a nerve of the human body, that originates from the brachial plexus (upper trunk, posterior division, posterior...
The genitofemoral nerve is a mixed branch of the lumbar plexus derived from anterior rami of L1-L2. It splits a genital branch and a femoral branch. It...
The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus of nerves situated on the vertebral bodies anterior...
The iliohypogastric nerve is a nerve that originates from the lumbar plexus that supplies sensation to skin over the lateral gluteal and hypogastric regions...
auricular nerve is a cutaneous (sensory) nerve of the head. It originates from the second and third cervical (spinal) nerves (C2-C3) of the cervical plexus. It...
tympanic nerve. After arising in the tympanic plexus, the lesser petrosal nerve passes anterior-ward, then through the hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve on the...
The dorsal scapular nerve is a branch of the brachial plexus, usually derived from the ventral ramus of cervical nerve C5. It provides motor innervation...
coccygeal nerve (Co). The relative contributions of S4 and S5 are minor and major, respectively. The coccygeal plexus gives rise to the anococcygeal nerve. The...
originates from the brachial plexus, carrying fibers from the posterior roots of spinal nerves C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. The radial nerve and its branches provide...
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