The pelvic splanchnic nerves arise from the anterior rami of the sacral spinal nervesS2, S3, and S4, and enter the sacral plexus.[1][2][3] They travel to their side's corresponding inferior hypogastric plexus, located bilaterally on the walls of the rectum.[2][3] They contain both preganglionic parasympathetic fibers as well as visceral afferent fibers.[3] Visceral afferent fibers go to spinal cord following pathway of pelvic splanchnic nerve fibers.
In the distal 1/3 of the transverse colon, and through the sigmoid and rectum, and the cervix in females, the pelvic splanchnic nerves supply parasympathetic function, including transmitting the sensation of pain.[1] The proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon, and the rest of the proximal gastrointestinal tract is supplied its parasympathetic fibers by the vagus nerve.
The pelvic splanchnic nerves are featured as a key plot point in "Parasites Lost", a 2001 episode of the American animated TV comedy Futurama; when protagonist Philip J. Fry is infected with parasitic worms, the rest of the crew use micro-droids to enter his body with the intention of tickling the pelvic splanchnic ganglion to trigger a convulsive bowel movement that they believe will expel the worms.
^ abcDrake, Richard L.; Vogl, Wayne; Tibbitts, Adam W.M. Mitchell; illustrations by Richard; Richardson, Paul (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. p. 423. ISBN978-0-8089-2306-0.
^ abcdeOakes, W. Jerry; Rocque, Brandon G. (2015-01-01), Tubbs, R. Shane; Rizk, Elias; Shoja, Mohammadali M.; Loukas, Marios (eds.), "Chapter 25 - Dorsal Rhizotomy for Spasticity", Nerves and Nerve Injuries, San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 383–391, ISBN978-0-12-802653-3, retrieved 2021-01-06