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Sacral ganglia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sacral ganglia
Details
ToSacral splanchnic nerves
Identifiers
Latinganglia sacralia
TA98A14.3.01.035
TA26615
FMA77579
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The sacral ganglia are paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk.[1]:39 As the sympathetic trunk heads inferiorly down the sacrum, it turns medially. There are generally four or five sacral ganglia. In addition to gray rami communicantes, the ganglia send off sacral splanchnic nerves to join the inferior hypogastric plexus. Near the coccyx, the right and left sympathetic trunks join to form the ganglion impar.

The sacral ganglia innervate blood vessels and sweat glands of the lower limbs.

Clinical significance

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Recurrences of genital herpes are caused by herpes simplex virus (either HSV-1 or HSV-2) which lies dormant in the sacral ganglia between bouts of active infection.[2] Either primary infection or reactivation may be silent or symptomatic.

References

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  1. ^ Moore, Keith L. Moore, Anne M.R. Agur; in collaboration with and with content provided by Arthur F. Dalley II; with the expertise of medical illustrator Valerie Oxorn and the developmental assistance of Marion E. (2007). Essential clinical anatomy (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0-7817-6274-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "VIROLOGY - CHAPTER ELEVEN HERPES VIRUSES". Microbiology and Immunology Online. University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Retrieved 10 April 2012.