What type of innervation does an external hemorrhoid receive?

An external hemorrhoid receives somatic innervation primarily through the inferior rectal nerve, a branch of the pudendal nerve. This connection provides sensory innervation, which is responsible for conveying pain, touch, and temperature sensations from the anal region. The somatic nervous system is involved in controlling voluntary movements and processing sensory feedback from the body, including areas like the skin and the anal canal.

The external hemorrhoid, being located beneath the dentate line, is innervated by structures that are under conscious control, which is why pain is often felt when these hemorrhoids are present. In contrast, visceral innervation would involve involuntary control and sensation from deeper structures, typically related to internal organs, which wouldn't apply to the painful sensations commonly associated with external hemorrhoids. Similarly, both sympathetic and parasympathetic innervations are related to involuntary functions such as the regulation of bowel movements rather than the sensory perception of pain directly from an external hemorrhoid. Thus, somatic innervation is the appropriate type of innervation for external hemorrhoids due to its association with conscious sensory experiences.