Where is the cavernous plexus?

Where is the cavernous plexus?

The cavernous nerve plexus (also called the Walther plexus) is situated below and medial to that part of the internal carotid artery which is placed by the side of the sella turcica in the cavernous sinus, and is formed chiefly by the medial division of the internal carotid nerve.

What is the function of the cavernous sinus?

Cavernous sinuses drain the blood from the orbits through the ophthalmic veins and from the anterior part of the base of the brain by the sphenoparietal sinus and the middle cerebral veins. They empty into both the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses and ultimately into the internal jugular veins.

What cranial nerves pass through the cavernous sinus?

The nerves of the cavernous sinus are the oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), ophthalmic nerve (V1), maxillary nerve (V2), abducens nerve (CN VI), and the sympathetic plexus around the internal carotid artery.

What are cavernous nerves?

The cavernous nerves are post-ganglionic parasympathetic nerves that facilitate penile erection and clitoral erection. They arise from cell bodies in the inferior hypogastric plexus where they receive the pre-ganglionic pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-S4).

Which artery runs through cavernous sinus?

The internal carotid artery
The internal carotid artery with its surrounding sympathetic plexus passes through the cavernous sinus.

Is cavernous nerve sympathetic?

The cavernous nerves contain both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers derived from the pelvic plexus. Injury to the cavernous nerves, such as may occur during pelvic surgery, is likely to damage both the sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers, since they are commingled within the nerve.

What is the carotid plexus?

The carotid plexus is a network of intersecting sympathetic nerves which run parallel to the carotid artery into the head. They branch out from the superior cervical ganglia of the sympathetic chain.