Pelvic Innervation

The peripheral nervous system can be divided into two parts: the somatic nervous system (SNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The SNS is composed of sensory nerves (afferent) and motor nerves (efferent) that are responsible for conscious perception and regulate the voluntary motor processes of skeletal muscles. The ANS, on the other hand, performs the internal control and regulation of the viscera in an unconscious manner. The knowledge of pelvic neuroanatomy is fundamental for the successful treatment of intrapelvic nerve entrapment and, mainly, to avoid functional complications in reconstructive pelvic surgeries, in the radical treatment of pelvic infiltrative endometriosis, and in oncologic surgeries. Technological advances in recent decades, provided by laparoscopy, allowed a better anatomical recognition of nerve fibers and the consequent development of nerve preservation techniques.