Coccygeal plexus

Last revised by Jeremy Jones ◉ on 5 Jul 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Fahrenhorst-Jones T, Weerakkody Y, Feger J, Coccygeal plexus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 01 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-90864

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-90864

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/90864

rID:

90864

Article created:

2 Jul 2021, Travis Fahrenhorst-Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Travis Fahrenhorst-Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Travis Fahrenhorst-Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

5 Jul 2021, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System, Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

coccyx

The coccygeal plexus is formed by the anterior rami of S4-S5 in combination with the coccygeal nerve and is described as supplying the skin of the post-anal region.

Gross anatomy

Origin

The plexus consists of a minute network of nerve fibers contributed by the anterior rami of S4, S5 and the coccygeal nerve ¹.

Course

The coccygeal nerves emerge from the conus medullaris before descending within the cauda equina and exiting at the sacral hiatus with the S5 roots ³. S5 travels superior to the transverse process of the first coccygeal vertebra while the coccygeal nerve travels inferior. A small branch from S4 also joints to form the coccygeal plexus upon the pelvic surface of coccygeus ^2,3.

One cadaveric study found that unlike standard descriptions of the coccygeal plexus, however, the plexus formed within the coccygeus muscle rather on the surface in a manner more similar to that of the lumbar plexus and the psoas muscle ⁴.

Branches

anococcygeal nerves

Supply

Anococcygeal nerve branches of the coccygeal plexus have a variable description of supply ⁴. Typically they are described as supplying the post-anal skin between the tip of the coccyx and the anus ¹. Some authors also describe these nerves as supplying the coccygeus muscle, part of the levator ani, the posterior extremity of the external anal sphincter, and the sacrococcygeal joint ^2,3.