Thoracic splanchnic nerves

{{Infobox nerve

| Name = Thoracic splanchnic nerves

| Latin =

| Image = Gray838.png

| Caption = The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. (Greater and lesser splanchnic nerves labeled at left.)

| Image2 = Gray847.png

| Caption2 = 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.)

| Innervates =Greater splanchnic nerve: celiac ganglia

lesser splanchnic nerve: superior mesenteric ganglion and aorticorenal ganglion

least splanchnic nerve: renal plexus

| BranchFrom = Thoracic ganglia

| BranchTo =

}}

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

Nerves

There are three main thoracic splanchnic nerves.{{Citation|last=Kline|first=Matthew T.|title=chapter 169 – Radiofrequency Techniques|date=2007-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780721603346501734|work=Pain Management|pages=1411–1459|editor-last=Waldman|editor-first=Steven D.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-7216-0334-6.50173-4|isbn=978-0-7216-0334-6|access-date=2020-11-23|editor2-last=Bloch|editor2-first=Joseph I.}}

class="wikitable"

!Name

!Spinal Nerve Roots

Ganglia

Structure

!Function

Greater splanchnic nerve

|T5–T9

| T5–T9

T5–T10

| The greater splanchnic nerve travels through the diaphragm and enters the abdominal cavity. Its fibers synapse at the celiac ganglia.{{Cite journal|last=Waxenbaum|first=Joshua A.|date=29 July 2021|title=Anatomy, Autonomic Nervous System|url=https://europepmc.org/article/nbk/nbk539845|journal=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=30969667|via=Europe PMC}} 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 greater splanchnic nerve modulates the activity of the enteric nervous system of the foregut. It stimulates contraction of the splanchnic vasculature, increasing blood pressure.{{Cite journal|last1=Bapna|first1=Anisha|last2=Adin|first2=Christopher|last3=Engelman|first3=Zoar J.|last4=Fudim|first4=Marat|date=2020-08-01|title=Increasing Blood Pressure by Greater Splanchnic Nerve Stimulation: a Feasibility Study|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12265-019-09929-7|journal=Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research|language=en|volume=13|issue=4|pages=509–518|doi=10.1007/s12265-019-09929-7|pmid=31691154 |s2cid=207896247 |issn=1937-5395}} It also provides sympathetic innervation to the adrenal medulla, stimulating catecholamine release. It may provide sensory innervation to the pancreas.

Lesser splanchnic nerve

{{Cite book|title=Clinically Oriented Anatomy|last=Moore|first=Keith|publisher=Wolters Kluwer|year=2018|isbn=9781496347213|pages=59–61}}

|T9–T12

| T9–T12

T9–T10

T10–T12

T10–T11

| The lesser splanchnic nerve travels inferiorly, lateral to the greater splanchnic nerve. Its fibers synapse with their postganglionic counterparts in the superior mesenteric ganglion, or in the aorticorenal ganglion.

|The lesser splanchnic nerve modulates the activity of the enteric nervous system of the midgut.

Least splanchnic nerve

|T12

| T12–L2

T11–T12{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/920806541|title=Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice|publisher=Elsevier|others=Susan Standring|year=2015|isbn=978-0-7020-5230-9|edition=41st|location=Philadelphia|language=en|oclc=920806541}}

| The least splanchnic nerve travels into the abdomen medial to the sympathetic trunk. Its fibers synapse in the renal plexus.

Additional images

File:Greater splanchnic nerve.png|Greater splanchnic nerve, seen in thoracic cavity seen from left side.

File:Gray848.png|The celiac ganglia with the sympathetic plexuses of the abdominal viscera radiating from the ganglia.

File:Gray1120.png|The relations of the viscera and large vessels of the abdomen. Seen from behind, the last thoracic vertebra being well raised.

File:Slide2zzzz.JPG|Thoracic splanchnic nerves

References

External links

{{SUNYAnatomyFigs|21|04|07}} – "The position of the right and left vagus nerves, and sympathetic trunks in the mediastinum."
{{SUNYAnatomyLabs|40|10|01|02}} – "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Celiac Plexus"
{{DartmouthHumanAnatomy|figures/chapter_30/30-4.HTM}}
{{DartmouthHumanAnatomy|figures/chapter_32/32-6.HTM}}

Category:Sympathetic nervous system