1346 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



FIG. i 122. 



Branches. The branches of the pudenclal plexus are : (i) the visceral, (2) 



the muscular, (3) the perforating cu- 

 taneous, (4) the small sciatic, (5) the 

 pudic and (6) the sacro-coccygeal. 



1. The visceral branches are 

 really white rami communicantes. They 

 are derived from the second and third or 

 third and fourth sacral nerves and are 

 distributed to the pelvic viscera by way 

 of the pelvic plexus of the sympathetic. 

 The details of these nerves are des- 

 cribed with the pelvic plexus of the 

 sympathetic (page 1374). 



2. The muscular branches 

 furnish innervation to the levator ani, 

 the coccygeus and the external sphinc- 

 ter ani. They arise from a loop-like 

 interlacement of nerve-fibres, formed by 

 the third and fourth sacral nerves, with 

 sometimes the addition of fibres from the 

 second. The nerve to the external 

 sphincter pierces the great sacro-sciatic 

 ligament and the coccygeus muscle, 

 sending filaments to the latter, and enters 

 the ischio-rectal fossa, lying between the 

 edge of the glutens maximus and the 

 sphincter ani externus. It supplies the 



Diagram illustrating plan of pudendal and coccygeal 

 plexuses. 



FIG. 1123. 



From III. lumbar 

 nerve" 



Cutaneous brs. post, 

 divisions of 

 sacral nerves 



Coccygeal nerves, 

 posterior divisions' 



Coccygeal nerve. t 

 anterior division" 



From ant. V. sacral ' 

 From ant. IV. sacral. 

 Inferior hemor- 

 rhoidul nerves" 



From II. lumbar nerve 



From I. lumbar nerve 



Iliac brs. of ilio- 

 hypogastric 



Gluteal 1>rs. <>f 

 small sciatic nerve 



InlVHor piuk-nda! 



Superficial dissection of right buttock and adjacent regions, showing cutaneous nerves. 



