Cavernous nerves

The cavernous nerves are post-ganglionic parasympathetic nerves that facilitate penile erection and clitoral erection.^[1] They arise from cell bodies in the inferior hypogastric plexus where they receive the pre-ganglionic pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-S4).

Cavernous nerves of clitoris
Details
From	Uterovaginal plexus
Identifiers
Latin	nervi cavernosi clitoridis
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Cavernous nerves of penis
Details
From	Prostatic plexus
Identifiers
Latin	nervi cavernosi penis
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

In the penis, there are both lesser cavernous nerves and a greater cavernous nerve.

Clinical considerations

These nerves are susceptible to injury following prostatectomy or genital surgery.

Nerve-sparing prostatectomy was invented for surgeons to avoid injuring the nerves and causing erectile dysfunction complications. During surgery, a doctor may apply a small electrical stimulation to the nerve and measure the erectile function with a penile plethysmograph.^[2] This test aids the surgeon in identifying the nerves, which are difficult to see.^[3]