What is the function of sacral plexus
Isabella Wilson
Published Mar 01, 2026
The sacral plexus (plexus sacralis) is a nerve plexus that provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg, the entire foot, and part of the pelvis (see the following image).
What happens if the sacral plexus is damaged?
A sacral plexus lesion may cause manifestations in the distributions of the gluteal, sciatic, tibial, and peroneal nerves. This manifests in weakness of the hip extensors, hip abductors, knee flexors, and all foot and toe functions.
What is the function of a spinal nerve plexus?
A plexus serves as an area where spinal nerves come together, are sorted, and then travel to their respective areas of the body.
What is the root value of sacral plexus?
Root. The sacral plexus is formed by the anterior rami of S1 to S4 as well as the lumbosacral trunk (anterior ramus of L4 & L5). The lumbosacral trunk courses vertically into the pelvic cavity from the abdomen and passes immediately anterior to the sacro-iliac joint.What does the S2 nerve control?
Damage to the spine at the sacrum levels affects the nerve roots as follows: S1 affects the hips and groin area. S2 affects the back of the thighs. S3 affects the medial buttock area.
Where does the sacral plexus exit?
The nerve exits the pelvic cavity by way of the greater sciatic foramen. In the gluteal region, it travels deep to gluteus maximus and the inferior gluteal artery.
What is a benefit of a nerve plexus?
What is a benefit of a nerve plexus? A plexus does not allow for redistribution. They provide a straight path from the spinal cord to target muscles. Damage to one single branch of a plexus does not necessarily disrupt all motor information sent to a region. The dorsal ramus can be distributed to many areas.
What is the sacral region?
The sacral region (sacrum) is at the bottom of the spine and lies between the fifth segment of the lumbar spine (L5) and the coccyx (tailbone). The sacrum is a triangular-shaped bone and consists of five segments (S1-S5) that are fused together.Where is the sacral?
The sacrum is a shield-shaped bony structure that is located at the base of the lumbar vertebrae and that is connected to the pelvis. The sacrum forms the posterior pelvic wall and strengthens and stabilizes the pelvis.
Where are sacral nerves?In human anatomy, the sacral plexus is a nerve plexus which provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg and foot, and part of the pelvis. It is part of the lumbosacral plexus and emerges from the lumbar vertebrae and sacral vertebrae (L4-S4).
Article first time published onHow many sacral nerves are there?
There are five sacral nerve pairs. The first nerve root exits between S1 and S2. One pair of coccygeal (Co1) nerves meets in the area of the tailbone. By way of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), nerve impulses travel to and from the brain through the spinal cord to a specific location in the body.
What is nerve plexus?
The nerve plexuses are proximal segments of peripheral nerves emerging from the foramina of the spine with interchanging and intertwining nerves from different spinal levels that then form individual nerves more distally. There are two major nerve plexuses: the brachial and lumbosacral plexus.
What's the definition of plexus?
Definition of plexus 1 : a network of anastomosing or interlacing blood vessels or nerves.
What nerves are affected by the sacrum?
- Lumbar Plexus.
- Femoral Nerve.
- Obturator Nerve.
- Sciatic Nerve.
- Tibial Nerve.
- Common Fibular Nerve.
- Superficial Fibular Nerve.
- Deep Fibular Nerve.
What is lumbar and sacral?
The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail. These are the five vertebra of the lower back.
What does S5 nerve do?
The S5 roots and coccygeal nerves leave the sacral canal via the sacral hiatus. These nerves provide sensory and motor innervation to their respective dermatomes and myotomes. They also provide partial innervation to several pelvic organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder, and prostate.
How many plexus are in the body?
Plexuses. The four primary nerve plexuses are the cervical plexus, brachial plexus, lumbar plexus, and the sacral plexus.
What is the largest autonomic plexus?
The solar plexus is the largest autonomic plexus and provides innervation to multiple abdominal and pelvic organs. The superior mesenteric plexus includes the superior mesenteric ganglia and is located around the superior mesenteric artery.
Which nerves do not form a plexus?
cervical, brachial (not equal to thoracic), lumbar, sacral, coccygeal. thoracic nerves DO NOT form a plexus. The PERIPHERAL nerves then branch off to reach all parts of trunk and limbs. these neurons control contraction of skeletal muscles in neck, trunk, and limbs.
What muscles are supplied by the sacral plexus?
The muscular branches supply the abductor hallucis, the flexor digitorum brevis, the flexor hallucis brevis, and the first lumbrical; those supplying the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis arise from the trunk of the nerve near its origin and enter the deep surfaces of the muscles; the branch of the flexor …
How do you remember the sacral plexus nerves?
- Six Ps: as all of the nerves of the anterior rami (prior to its division) start with the letter P.
- SLIP, DSP: if you slip over, you may need to go on the DSP (Disability Support Pension)
Why is the sacrum called the Holy bone?
The os sacrum was so named by the Romans as a direct translation from the older Greek hieron osteon, which translates to “sacred” or “holy.” It was used in sacrificial rites and in protecting the genitalia (which in ancient times were considered sacred).
What type of bone is the sacrum?
The sacrum is an irregular (sphenoid) bone that makes up the back (posterior) third of the pelvic girdle. A ridge across the front (anterior) portion of the S1 vertebra is called the sacral promontory.
What does sacral mean in medical terms?
Medical Definition of sacral (Entry 1 of 2) : of, relating to, or lying near the sacrum the sacral region of the spinal cord. sacral.
Is the sacrum and pelvis the same thing?
The sacrum is a large wedge shaped vertebra at the inferior end of the spine. It forms the solid base of the spinal column where it intersects with the hip bones to form the pelvis.
What is the sacral spinal cord?
The sacral spine (sacrum) is located below the lumbar spine and above the tailbone, which is known as the coccyx. Five bones that are fused together make up the triangle-shaped sacrum, and these bones are numbered S-1 to S-5. Each number corresponds with the nerves in that section of the spinal cord.
What is the difference between the sacrum and the coccyx?
The sacrum, sometimes called the sacral vertebra or sacral spine (S1), is a large, flat triangular shaped bone nested between the hip bones and positioned below the last lumbar vertebra (L5). The coccyx, commonly known as the tailbone, is below the sacrum.
What muscles are connected to the sacrum?
The iliacus and coccygeus also attach to the pelvic surface superolaterally and inferolaterally respectively. The erector spinae aponeurosis and multifidus cover the dorsal surface while the gluteus maximus attaches to the lateral borders of the sacrum.
Which nerve of the sacral plexus is the largest and longest nerve in the body?
sciatic nerve, largest and thickest nerve of the human body that is the principal continuation of all the roots of the sacral plexus.
Which of the following nerves originates in the sacral plexus?
The sciatic nerve originates from both the lumbar and sacral…
What do the nerves in your neck control?
Cervical Nerve Functions Cervical nerves provide control and sensation to different parts of the body based on the spinal level from where they branch out. More specifically: C1, C2, and C3 (the first three cervical nerves) control the head and neck, including movements forward, backward, and to the sides.