Anatomy of Sacral splanchnic nerve

Sacral splanchnic nerve

It is the peripheral nerves of sympathetic nervous system

Its pre-ganglionic neurons are located in the  lateral horn of gray matter of Lumbar 1,2 spinal cord segment

Pre-ganglionic fibre descend through sympathetic ganglion and leave sympathetic ganglion at the level of Sacral 1-5 . They do not synapse with sympathetic ganglion .

The pre-ganglionic sympathetic fiber of sacral splanchnic nerve synapse with post ganglionic neuron located in the Inferior mesenteric ganglion

So sacral splanchnic nerves convey pre-ganglionic sympathetic fibres also known as general visceral efferent fibres. They also convey general visceral afferent fibers which collect sensory information of pelvic viscera and passage through the inferior mesenteric ganglion sacral splanchnic nerve and sympathetic and dorsal root ganglion

They take part in the formation of  Inferior hypogastric plexus

Functions :

The inferior hypogastric plexus is a plexus of nerves that supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity. The inferior hypogastric plexus gives rise to the prostatic plexus in males and the uterovaginal plexus in females