multiplexus

Multiplexus is a rarely used term in anatomy and related disciplines that refers to a network consisting of multiple interlinked plexuses. The word combines Latin multi- meaning “many” with plexus meaning “braid” or “net.” In standard anatomical nomenclature, networks of nerves, vessels, or other structures are typically called plexuses (for example, the brachial plexus); multiplexus is primarily a descriptive label rather than a formal category.

Usage and scope: Because it is not widely standardized, multiplexus appears mainly in older or pedagogical texts to emphasize a higher level of interconnection by naming a region as a multiplexus rather than a single plexus. In practice, it might be used for regions where several plexuses overlap or interconnect, such as complex neural or vascular networks, though such usage is not common in current formal anatomy.

Variants and related concepts: The idea is analogous to a “plexus of plexuses” or a composite network. Some sources may describe interconnected networks in broad terms as multiplexing, but multiplexus is not a widely adopted term in standard taxonomy. In modern texts, practitioners typically specify the constituent plexuses (for example, cervical plexus and facial vascular plexus) rather than use the umbrella term multiplexus.

See also: Plexus; Neural plexus; Vascular plexus; Lymphatic plexus.