The uterovaginal plexus of the female stems from the intermediate part of the inferior hypogastric plexus. Its branches innervate the uterus, uterine tube, cervix and upper vagina. Sympathetic innervation originates in segments of the lower thoracic spinal cord and passes through lumbar splanchnics and the inferior mesenteric/hypogastric series of plexuses and finally to the uterovaginal plexus. Parasympathetic innervation originates in the S2 through S4 spinal cord segments and passes through pelvic splanchnics to the inferior hypogastric plexus and then into the uterovaginal plexus. Remember that the pudendal nerve S2 - S4 does not carry parasympathetic fibers. Visceral afferent fibers originating in the fundus and body of the uterus travel retrograde with sympathetics along the hypogastric nerves and superior hypogastric plexus to reach the lower thoracic segments of the spinal cord. Afferent fibers of the upper vagina and cervix travel back along the pelvic splanchnics S2 - S4 and on the pudendal nerve.
|
