Editing Plexus

{{Short description|Branching network of vessels or nerves}}
{{About|anatomy term|other uses}}
In [[anatomy]], a '''plexus''' (from the Latin term for 'braid') is a branching network of [[Blood vessel|blood vessels]], [[Lymphatic vessel|lymphatic vessels]], or [[Nerve|nerves]]. The nerves are typically [[Axon|axons]] outside the central nervous system. 

The standard plural form in English is '''plexuses'''.<ref name="MWCD_online_paywalled">{{Citation | author = Merriam-Webster | authorlink = Merriam-Webster | title = Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary | publisher = Merriam-Webster |url=http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/collegiate/ |postscript=. [[Paywall]]ed reference work.}}</ref><ref name="MWMD_online_paywalled">{{Citation |author=Merriam-Webster |authorlink=Merriam-Webster |title=Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary |publisher=Merriam-Webster |url=http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/medical/ |postscript=. [[Paywall]]ed reference work.}}</ref><ref name="Dorlands.com_online_paywalled">{{Citation |author=Elsevier |authorlink=Elsevier |title=Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary |publisher=Elsevier |url=http://www.dorlands.com/ |postscript=. [[Paywall]]ed reference work. |access-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111192614/http://dorlands.com/ |archive-date=2014-01-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Alternatively, the Latin plural '''plexūs''' may be used.

==Types==
===Nerve plexuses===
The four primary [[nerve plexus]]es are the [[cervical plexus]], [[brachial plexus]], [[lumbar plexus]], and the [[sacral plexus]].

====Cardiac plexus====
{{main|Cardiac plexus}}

====Celiac plexus====
{{main|Celiac plexus}}

====Renal plexus====
{{main|Renal plexus}}

===Venous plexus===
{{main|Venous plexus}}

===Choroid plexus===
The [[choroid plexus]] is a part of the [[central nervous system]] in the [[brain]] and consists of capillaries, [[brain ventricle]]s, and [[ependymal cells]].

==Invertebrates==
The plexus is the characteristic form of nervous system in the [[coelenterate]]s and persists with modifications in the [[flatworm]]s. The nerves of the [[Radial symmetry|radially symmetric]] [[echinoderm]]s also take this form, where a plexus underlies the [[germ layer|ectoderm]] of these animals and deeper in the body other nerve cells form plexuses of limited extent.

== See also ==
* [[Cranial nerve]]
* [[Spinal nerve]]
* [[Nerve plexus]]
* [[Brachial nerve]]
* [[List of anatomy mnemonics]]

==References==
{{wiktionary}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Nervous system]]

{{Neuroanatomy-stub}}