Thoracic splanchnic nerves
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures- Lesser splanchnic nerves
- Greater splanchnic nerves
- Thoracic splanchnic nerve
- Least splanchnic nerves
- Least splanchnic nerve
- Greater splanchnic nerve
- Lesser splanchnic nerve
The thoracic splanchnic nerves are three paired autonomic nerves that provide sympathetic innervation of the abdominopelvic viscera and vessels. They contain efferent and afferent fibers.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Three pairs of thoracic splanchnic nerves arise from the T5 to T12 sympathetic ganglia.
Greater splanchnic nerve
origin: T5 to T9 sympathetic ganglia (medial visceral branches)
-
course
descends on the lateral surface of the lower thoracic vertebral bodies
enters the abdomen through the crus of the diaphragm
terminates in the celiac ganglia
-
branches and supply
gives off small branches to the descending aorta supplying it
contributes to the celiac and aorticorenal ganglia
preganglionic fibers continue to the suprarenal gland
-
relations
posterior: vertebral bodies, posterior intercostal vessels, crus of the diaphragm
anteromedial: descending aorta (left) or esophagus (right), azygous (right) or hemiazygos vein (left)
Lesser splanchnic nerve
origin: T10 and T11 sympathetic ganglia (medial visceral branches)
-
course
descends on the lateral surface of the lower thoracic vertebral bodies
enters the abdomen through the inferior fibers of the crus of the diaphragm or through beneath the medial arcuate ligament
terminates in the aorticorenal ganglia
-
branches and supply
may give off small branches to the celiac ganglia
contributes to the aorticorenal ganglia
-
relations
posterior: vertebral bodies, posterior intercostal vessels, crus of the diaphragm
anteromedial: greater splanchnic nerve, descending aorta (left) or esophagus (right), azygos (right) or hemiazygos vein (left)
lateral: vertebral pleura and lung
Least splanchnic nerve
origin: T11 and/or T12 sympathetic ganglia (medial visceral branches)
-
course
descends on the lateral surface of the lower thoracic vertebral bodies
enters the abdomen medial to the sympathetic chain beneath the medial arcuate ligament
terminates in the renal ganglia
-
branches and supply
may give off small branches to the celiac and aorticorenal ganglia
contributes to the renal ganglia
-
relations
posterior: vertebral bodies, posterior intercostal vessels, crus of the diaphragm
anterior: posterior diaphragm
lateral: vertebral pleura and lung
Variant anatomy
The thoracic splanchnic nerves may have variable origins:
greater splanchnic nerve may arise from the T4 to T10 sympathetic ganglia or the T6 to T9 ganglia
lesser splanchnic nerve may arise from the T9 and T10 sympathetic ganglia
Occasionally the greater and least splanchnic nerves are fused as a single splanchnic nerve.
History and etymology
The term 'splanchnic' is derived from the Greek word σπλαγχνον (splanchnon) meaning 'the innards' 5,6.
References
- 1. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. (2000) ISBN: 9780632054039 - Google Books
- 2. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - Google Books
- 3. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - Google Books
- 4. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2015) ISBN: 9780702052309 - Google Books
- 5. William Alexander Newman Dorland. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. (2007) ISBN: 9781416023647 - Google Books
- 6. Morwood, James., Taylor, John, 1955 Apr. 11-. The Pocket Oxford Classical Greek Dictionary. (2002) ISBN: 9780198605126 - Google Books
Incoming Links
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