Thoracic splanchnic nerves

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Nerve: Thoracic splanchnic nerves
The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. (Greater and lesser splanchnic nerves labeled at left.)
Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses. (Greater splanchnic and lowest splanchnic labeled at upper left. Greater splanchnic and lesser splanchnic labeled at upper right.)
Gray's	subject #217 981
From	thoracic ganglia
MeSH	Splanchnic+Nerves

Thoracic splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the sympathetic trunk in the thorax and travel inferiorly to provide sympathetic innervation to the abdomen. The nerves contain preganglionic sympathetic and visceral afferent fibers.

There are three main thoracic splanchnic nerves:

Name	Ganglia	Description
greater[1]	T5-T9[2] or T5-T10[3]	The nerve travels through the diaphragm and enters the abdominal cavity, where its fibers synapse at the celiac ganglia. The nerve contributes to the celiac plexus, a network of nerves located in the vicinity of where the celiac trunk branches from the abdominal aorta. The fibers in this nerve modulate the activity of the enteric nervous system of the foregut. They also provide the sympathetic innervation to the adrenal medulla, stimulating catecholamine release.
lesser[4]	T9-T12, T9-T10[4][5], T10-T12, or T10-T11[3]	The nerve travels inferiorly, lateral to the greater splanchnic nerve. Its fibers synapse with their postganglionic counterparts in the celiac ganglia, or in the aorticorenal ganglion. The nerve modulates the activity of the enteric nervous system of the midgut.
least or lowest[6]	T12-L2, or T11-T12[7]	The nerve travels into the abdomen, where its fibers synapse in the renal ganglia.

The nerve's origins can be remembered by the "4-3-2 rule", accounting for the number of ganglia giving rise to each nerve. However, different sources define the nerves in different ways, so this rule may not always be reliable.

[edit] Additional images

Diagram of efferent sympathetic nervous system.	Plan of right sympathetic cord and splanchnic nerves.	The celiac ganglia with the sympathetic plexuses of the abdominal viscera radiating from the ganglia.	Lower half of right sympathetic cord.
The relations of the viscera and large vessels of the abdomen. Seen from behind, the last thoracic vertebra being well raised.

[edit] References

1. ^ n_05/12566702 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. ^ -1777991622 at GPnotebook
3. ^ ^{a b} Norman/Georgetown thoraxlesson5
4. ^ ^{a b} n_05/12566712 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
5. ^ 389349435 at GPnotebook
6. ^ n_05/12566675 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
7. ^ 154468411 at GPnotebook

[edit] External links

• Thoracic+splanchnic+nerves at eMedicine Dictionary
• SUNY Figs 21:04-07 - "The position of the right and left vagus nerves, and sympathetic trunks in the mediastinum."
• SUNY Labs 40:10-0102 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Celiac Plexus"
• -1274675140 at GPnotebook
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_30/30-4.HTM
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_32/32-6.HTM

v • d • e Nerves - autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion) Head/cranial Ciliary ganglion: roots (Sensory, Parasympathetic, Sympathetic) - Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal - nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine (inferior posterior nasal branches) - lesser palatine - nasopalatine (medial superior posterior nasal branches) - pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion Neck/cervical paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia (Superior, Middle, Inferior) - Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus - Internal carotid Chest/thorax paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus - Esophageal plexus - Pulmonary plexus - Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary - thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior - Middle - Inferior Abdomen/Lumbar paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia (Aorticorenal) - Superior mesenteric ganglion - Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus - (Hepatic, Splenic, Pancreatic) - aorticorenal (Abdominal aortic plexus, Renal/Suprarenal) - Superior mesenteric (Gastric) - Inferior mesenteric (Spermatic, Ovarian) - Superior hypogastric (hypogastric nerve, Superior rectal) - Inferior hypogastric (Vesical, Prostatic/Cavernous nerves of penis, Uterovaginal, Middle rectal) splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves enteric nervous system: Meissner's plexus • Auerbach's plexus Pelvis/sacral paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia - Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves - Sacral splanchnic nerves All Rami communicans (White, Gray) - Preganglionic fibers - Postganglionic fibers