Cavernous nerves of penis

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

The cavernous nerves arise from the pelvic plexus from the lateral surface of the rectum. Then the cavernous nerves run posterolateral to the apex, mid-portion and base of the prostate anterior to Denonvilliers’ fascia between the posterolateral surface of the prostate and the rectum to lie between the lateral pelvic fascia and the prostatic fascia. The branches from the cavernous nerve accompany the prostatic branches of the inferior vesical artery to from the neurovascular bundle, that provide a macroscopic landmark for nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. The cavernous nerve leaves the pelvis between the transverse perineal muscles and membranous urethra before passing beneath the pubic arch to supply the corpus cavernosum and penile urethra, and terminates in a delicate network around the erectile tissue.