Nerves
|
Nerve |
Source |
Branches |
Motor |
Sensory |
Notes |
aorticorenal ganglion (N318, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
preganglionic sympathetic via the lesser thoracic splanchnic n. |
brs. to the renal plexus |
vascular smooth muscle of the brs. of the renal aa. |
pain from the kidney, suprarenal gland, upper ureter |
a sympathetic ganglion; located above or near the origin of the renal a. from the abdominal aorta (Greek, ganglion = a knot or swelling) |
celiac ganglion (N318, N319, N320, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
preganglionic sympathetic axons arrive via the greater thoracic splanchnic n. |
postganglionic sympathetic axons distribute via the celiac plexus along brs. of the celiac trunk |
vascular smooth muscle of the brs. of the celiac trunk |
pain from the stomach, liver & biliary system, spleen, upper half of the duodenum & pancreas |
a sympathetic ganglion; usually 2 celiac ganglia are located on the abdominal aorta at the origin of the celiac trunk; brs. of the vagal trunks pass through the celiac ganglion without synapsing (Greek, celiac = belly + ganglion = a knot or swelling) |
collateral ganglia |
splanchnic nn. (thoracic, lumbar) |
plexuses to abdominal & pelvic viscera |
smooth muscle in blood vessels supplying the abdominopelvic viscera |
pain from the abdominopelvic viscera |
sympathetic ganglia; also known as: preaortic ganglia which include: celiac, aorticorenal, superior & inferior mesenteric; brs. of the vagal trunks pass through but do not synapse in collateral ganglia |
ganglia, myenteric |
preganglionic parasympathetic via anterior and posterior vagal trunks (gut proximal to the left colic flexure) and pelvic splanchnic nn. (gut distal to the left colic flexure) |
postganglionic parasympathetic via many short fibers |
smooth muscle of the gut wall |
none |
minute ganglia located within the myenteric plexus; parasympathetic terminal ganglia |
ganglia, preaortic (TG8-03) |
splanchnic nn. |
plexuses to abdominal and pelvic viscera |
vascular smooth muscle of vessels that supply abdominopelvic viscera |
pain from abdominopelvic viscera |
also known as: collateral ganglia which include the celiac ganglion, aorticorenal ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion and inferior mesenteric ganglion; preganglionic parasympathetic axons of vagal trunk origin pass through the preaortic ganglia but do not synapse there |
ganglia, submucosal of the gut |
preganglionic parasympathetic arrive via branches of the anterior and posterior vagal trunks (gut proximal to the left colic flexure) and pelvic splanchnic nn. (gut distal to the left colic flexure) |
postganglionic parasympathetic via many short fibers |
secretomotor to glands in the mucosa of the gut |
none |
terminal parasympathetic ganglia; parasympathetic terminal ganglia; also known as: Meissner's plexus |
ganglia, sympathetic chain |
preganglionic sympathetic fibers arrive via white rami communicantes of ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T1-L2 |
postganglionic sympathetic fibers depart via gray rami communicantes to all spinal nn.; internal & external carotid nn.; cervical cardiac brs.; thoracic direct visceral brs.; greater, lesser & least thoracic splanchnic nn.; lumbar splanchnic nn.; sacral splanchnic nn. |
dilator pupillae, vascular smooth muscle, arrector pili muscles, sweat glands, suprarenal medulla, heart, lungs and gut |
pain from viscera |
located lateral to the vertebral bodies in the neck, thorax & abdominopelvic cavity; the ganglia plus their interconnecting fibers are also known as the sympathetic trunk; preganglionic cell bodies are located in the intermediolateral gray matter of spinal cord levels T1-L2 |
ganglion, inferior mesenteric (TG5-39, TG5-40) |
preganglionic sympathetic axons from the intermesenteric plexus and the 2nd lumbar splanchnic n. |
contributes to the inferior mesenteric plexus; contributes to the superior hypogastric plexus |
vascular smooth muscle of brs. of the inferior mesenteric a. |
pain from descending colon and sigmoid colon; pain from upper rectum |
a sympathetic ganglion; located on the abdominal aorta at the origin of the inferior mesenteric a.; may be a series of small, indistinguishable ganglia rather than a single large one |
ganglion, superior mesenteric (N318, N322, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
preganglionic sympathetic axons from the celiac plexus |
contributes to the superior mesenteric and intermesenteric plexuses |
vascular smooth muscle of brs. of the superior mesenteric a. |
pain from the lower half of the pancreas and duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, ascending colon and transverse colon |
a sympathetic ganglion; located on the abdominal aorta at the origin of the superior mesenteric a. |
greater thoracic splanchnic n. (N318, N320, N323, N344, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord levels T5-T9; the greater thoracic splanchnic nerve appears to arise by multiple contributions from the sympathetic trunk |
no named branches |
celiac ganglion; preganglionic fibers supply the adrenal medulla which releases epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood |
pain from the abdominal viscera |
greater thoracic splanchnic n. passes through the crus of the respiratory diaphragm; postganglionic processes from the celiac ganglion spread down the aorta and distribute with its branches; they innervate the smooth muscle of these vessels and vascular smooth muscle in the organs supplied (Greek, splanchna = viscera) |
hypogastric n. (TG6-19, TG6-19) |
superior hypogastric plexus |
inferior hypogastric plexus |
supplies vascular smooth muscle of the pelvic viscera |
pain from the pelvic viscera |
paired; hypogastric n. lies inferior to the common iliac vessels; it contains postganglionic sympathetic axons |
hypogastric plexus, inferior (TG5-40, TG5-41) |
hypogastric nn. and sacral splanchnic nn. (postganglionic sympathetic axons); pelvic splanchnic nn. (preganglionic parasympathetic axons from the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S2-S4) |
contributes branches to: uterine/vaginal plexus, vesical plexus, prostatic plexus |
sympathetic: supplies vascular smooth muscle of vessels supplying the pelvic viscera; parasympathetic: supplies smooth muscle of the pelvic viscera |
pain from the pelvic viscera; general visceral afferent from the pelvic viscera |
inferior hypogastric plexus lies between the pelvic viscera and the pelvic wall (Latin, plexus = a braid) |
hypogastric plexus, superior (N318, TG5-40, TG5-41, TG5-39) |
intermesenteric plexus and lumbar splanchnic nn. (postganglionic sympathetic axons) |
hypogastric nn. (right and left) |
vascular smooth muscle of the pelvic viscera (sympathetic) |
pain from the pelvic viscera; general visceral afferent from the pelvic viscera |
superior hypogastric plexus is the continuation of the intermesenteric plexus; it crosses the pelvic brim (Latin, plexus = a braid) |
intermesenteric plexus (N318, TG5-40, TG5-41, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
lumbar splanchnic nn. 1 and 2 |
renal, testicular (or ovarian) and ureteric brs. |
sympathetic: smooth muscle of vessels supplying the gut distal to the left colic flexure |
pain from the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum |
intermesenteric plexus is continuous with the superior mesenteric plexus; it continues inferiorly as the inferior mesenteric plexus and superior hypogastric plexus; intermesenteric plexus does not carry vagal parasympathetic fibers; located anterior to the abdominal aorta between the superior and inferior mesenteric aa. (Latin, plexus = a braid) |
least thoracic splanchnic n. (N318, N320, N323, N344, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord level T12 |
no named branches |
renal plexus |
pain from the kidney and suprarenal gland |
least thoracic splanchnic n.pass through the crus of the diaphragm; it synapses in minute ganglia located in the renal plexus (Greek, splanchna = viscera) |
lesser thoracic splanchnic n. (N318, N320, N323, N344, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of spinal cord levels T10-T11; the lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve appears to arise by multiple contributions from the sympathetic trunk |
no named branches |
aorticorenal ganglion; |
pain from the kidney and suprarenal gland |
lesser thoracic splanchnic n. passes through the crus of the respiratory diaphragm; postganglionic processes from the ganglion supply vascular smooth muscle of branches of the renal a. and suprarenal aa.; kidney and suprarenal gland (Greek, splanchna = viscera) |
lumbar splanchnic nn. (N318, TG5-40, TG5-41) |
lumbar sympathetic ganglia L1-L4 |
no named branches |
smooth muscle of vessels that supply the abdominal and pelvic viscera |
pain from abdominal and pelvic viscera |
sympathetic nerves; there are four of these on each side; lumbar splanchnic nn. contribute to preaortic abdominal plexuses (celiac, superior mesenteric, intermesenteric, superior hypogastric) (Greek, splanchna = viscera) |
mesenteric plexus, inferior (N318, N322, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
intermesenteric plexus |
multiple unnamed nn. course along the branches of the inferior mesenteric a. |
sympathetic: smooth muscle of the vessels supplying the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum |
pain from the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum |
inferior mesenteric plexus contains no vagal parasympathetic fibers; pelvic splanchnic n. axons join the most distal nn. of the plexus near gut wall (Greek, mes = in the middle of + enteron = intestine; Latin, plexus = a braid) |
mesenteric plexus, superior (N318, N322, TG8-16, TG5-39) |
celiac plexus, superior mesenteric ganglion |
multiple unnamed nn. course along the branches of the superior mesenteric a. |
sympathetic: smooth muscle of vessels supplying the lower pancreas, lower duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, ascending colon and most of the transverse colon; parasympathetic (vagus): smooth muscle in the gut wall of same distribution area |
pain & GVA of the parts of the gut named at left |
superior mesenteric plexus contains a mixture of vagal (preganglionic parasympathetic) axons and postganglionic sympathetic axons (Greek, mes = in the middle of + enteron = intestine; Latin, plexus = a braid) |
pelvic splanchnic n. (TG6-18A, TG6-18B, TG6-19A, TG6-19B) |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves S2-S4 (cell bodies are located in the lateral horn gray of the sacral spinal cord) |
unnamed branches contribute to the pelvic plexus (inferior hypogastric) plexus |
smooth muscle and glands of the gut distal to the left colic flexure; smooth muscle and glands of all pelvic viscera |
none |
parasympathetic nerves; these contain preganglionic parasympathetic axons (Greek, splanchna = viscera) |
vagus n. (TG5-40, TG5-41) |
medulla: dorsal motor nucleus (GVE preganglionic parasympathetic); inferior ganglion (GVA); nucleus ambiguus (SVE); superior ganglion (GSA); inferior ganglion(SVA) |
auricular br., pharyngeal br., superior laryngeal, superior and inferior cervical cardiac brs., recurrent laryngeal n., thoracic cardiac brs., brs. to the pulmonary plexus, brs. to the esophageal plexus, anterior and posterior vagal trunks |
SVE: intrinsic muscles of the larynx, pharynx (except stylopharyngeus), and palate (except tensor veli palatini); GVE: smooth muscle of the respiratory tree & gut (proximal to the left colic flexure), heart; secretomotor: mucous glands of the larynx, respiratory tree, pharynx and gut; secretomotor to digestive glands |
GSA: skin of the external auditory meatus; GVA: viscera of head, neck, thorax & abdomen proximal to the left colic flexure; SVA: taste from the epiglottis |
also known as: CN X, 10th cranial nerve; the vagus n. passes through the jugular foramen to exit the posterior cranial fossa; (Latin, vagus = wanderer due to its wide distribution to the body cavities) |
esophageal plexus (TG5-40) |
right and left vagus (X) nn.; thoracic visceral brs. of the sympathetic trunk |
anterior and posterior vagal trunks |
preganglionic parasympathetic axons from the vagus n. supply smooth muscle and glands of the thoracic esophagus and abdominal gut and its derivatives proximal to the left colic flexure; postganglionic sympathetic axons from the thoracic visceral brs. supply vascular smooth muscle in the esophageal vessels |
vagus: GVA from the esophagus and abdominal gut proximal to the left colic flexure; thoracic visceral brs.carry pain from the esophagus |
during development of the gut, the stomach and esophagus rotate 90° to the right with the result that the left and right vagus nerves mix in the esophageal plexus and emerge as anterior and posterior vagal trunks (Latin, plexus = a braid) |
phrenic n. (TG4-20, TG4-29) |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C3-C5 (cervical plexus) |
no named branches |
skeletal muscle of the respiratory diaphragm |
diaphragmatic pleura; some fibers contributed to the pericardium and to the adjacent mediastinal and costal pleurae |
phrenic n. crosses the anterior surface of the anterior scalene m. (Greek, phrenic = diaphragm) |
femoral n. (TG3-19, TG3-20, TG3-21) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4) |
anterior femoral cutaneous brs., nn. to: sartorius m., rectus femoris m., vastus lateralis m., vastus intermedius m., vastus medialis m., pectineus m. |
sartorius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, pectineus |
skin of anterior thigh |
passes under inguinal ligament lateral to femoral a. |
femoral cutaneous, lateral (TG3-02, TG3-03, TG3-14) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L3) |
anterior & posterior brs. |
sympathetic motor innervation to skin |
skin of the lateral thigh |
cutaneous nn. carry postganglionic sympathetic axons to skin (Latin, cutis = skin) |
genitofemoral n. (TG3-02, TG3-14, TG3-68) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L2) |
genital br., femoral br. |
cremaster m. |
skin of the anterior scrotum/labia majora & upper medial thigh |
genitofemoral n. lies on the anterior surface of the psoas major in the abdomen; the genital br. passes through the deep inguinal ring and inguinal canal; brushing the thigh elicits an elevation of the testis via the cremasteric reflex |
gray ramus communicans (TG1-17B) |
cell bodies located in the sympathetic chain ganglia |
none |
carries postganglionic sympathetic axons to the spinal nerve; spinal nerve
will carry those axons peripherally to the skin, blood vessels, etc. |
none |
gray rami communicantes connect the sympathetic chain to spinal nerves at all vertebral levels (Latin, ramus = a branch) |
iliohypogastric n. (TG3-03, TG3-14) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary ramus of spinal nerve L1) |
lateral and anterior cutaneous brs. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, upper hip and upper thigh |
iliohypogastric n. receives a contribution from T12 in approximately 50% of cases |
ilioinguinal n. (TG3-03, TG3-19) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary ramus of spinal nerve L1) |
anterior cutaneous br. (also known as: anterior labial/scrotal n.) |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall |
skin of the lower abdominal wall and anterior scrotum/labium majus |
ilioinguinal n. courses through the inguinal canal and superficial inguinal ring |
lumbar n. |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L5 |
contributes to the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses |
numerous: see lumbar and sacral plexuses |
numerous: see lumbar and sacral plexuses |
lumbar nn. enter into the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses and do not give branches directly to muscles or skin |
lumbar plexus (TG8-13) |
ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L4 |
branches of the lumbar plexus: iliohypogastric n., ilioinguinal n., genitofemoral n., lateral femoral cutaneous n., femoral n., obturator n., lumbosacral trunk (considered to be part of sacral plexus), brs. to the psoas major and minor mm., branches to the quadratus lumborum m. |
muscles of the lower abdominal wall; cremaster m., psoas major and minor mm., quadratus lumborum m., iliacus m.; muscles of the anterior and medial thigh and hip |
skin of the lower abdominal wall, skin of the anterior scrotum/labium majus, skin of the anterior and medial thigh and lateral hip |
lumbar plexus is noted for its variable branching pattern of nerves that supply the abdominal wall (Latin, plexus = to braid, a network of nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels) |
lumbosacral trunk |
part of the ventral primary ramus of L4 united with the ventral primary ramus of L5 |
no named branches; it contributes to the formation of the sacral plexus |
muscles of the hip and posterior thigh |
see sacral plexus |
the lumbosacral trunk is not considered to be part of the lumbar plexus (Latin, plexus = a braid, a network of nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels) |
obturator n. (TG5-08, TG5-09) |
lumbar plexus (ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4) |
anterior and posterior brs. |
muscles of the medial thigh: adductor longus m., adductor brevis m. and adductor magnus m., gracilis m., obturator externus m. |
skin of the lower medial thigh |
obturator n. passes through the obturator canal (Latin, obturare = close, obscure) |
subcostal n. (TG5-02, TG5-38) |
ventral primary ramus of T12 |
lateral cutaneous br., anterior cutaneous br. |
muscles of the abdominal wall |
skin of the anterolateral abdominal wall |
the subcostal n. is equivalent to a posterior intercostal n. found at higher thoracic levels (Latin, costa = rib) |
white ramus communicans (TG1-17B) |
cell bodies located in the lateral horn gray matter of spinal cord levels T1-L2; |
none |
axons contained within white rami communicantes will synapse on postganglionic cell bodies that will ultimately innervate the skin, viscera, glands, blood vessels, etc. |
pain from viscera is carried back to the spinal cord through the white ramus communicans |
white rami communicantes connect the sympathetic chain to spinal nerves at vertebral levels T1-L2; carries preganglionic sympathetic axons (Latin, ramus = a branch) |