Splanchnic nerves: Definition from Answers.com

Nerve: Splanchnic nerves

Nerves of the autonomic nervous system, with splanchnic nerves seen in center.

The splanchnic nerves are paired nerves that contribute to the innervation of the viscera, carrying fibers of the autonomic nervous system (visceral efferent fibers) as well as sensory fibers from the organs (visceral afferent fibers). All carry sympathetic fibers except for the pelvic splanchnic nerves, which carry parasympathetic fibers.

Types

The term splanchnic nerves can refer to:

Cardiopulmonary nerves^[1]
Thoracic splanchnic nerves (greater, lesser, and least)
Lumbar splanchnic nerves
Sacral splanchnic nerves
Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Comparison
Nerve		Pre-/postsynaptic ^[2]	autonomic system^[2]	Origin^[2]	Targets^[2]
Cardiopulmonary nerves		Postsynaptic	sympathetic	cervical and upper thoracic ganglia	Thoracic cavity
Thoracic splanchnic nerves	generally	Presynaptic		lower thoracic ganglia	Prevertebral ganglia
	Greater splanchnic nerve			T5-T9 or T10	Celiac ganglia
	Lesser splanchnic nerve			T10-T11	Superior mesenteric ganglia and Aorticorenal ganglia
	Least splanchnic nerve			T12	Renal ganglia
Lumbar splanchnic nerves				L1-2	Inferior mesenteric ganglia, ganglia of intermesenteric and hypogastric plexuses
Sacral splanchnic nerves				sacral part of sympathetic trunk	inferior hypogastric plexus and ganglia to the pelvic viscera
Pelvic splanchnic nerves			parasympathetic	S2-S4	intrinsic ganglia of descending and sigmoid colon, rectum, and inferior hypogastric plexus and ganglia to the pelvic viscera

References

^ Essential Clinical Anatomy. K.L. Moore & A.M. Agur. Lippincott, 3 ed. 2007. Page 181
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Unless else specified in boxes, then ref is: Essential Clinical Anatomy. K.L. Moore & A.M. Agur. Lippincott, 3 ed. 2007. Page 181

This neuroanatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Donate to Wikimedia

	What do your nerves do for you? Read answer...
	How do you get nerves? Read answer...
	What does a nerve do? Read answer...

	What forms the splanchnic nerve?
	What are splanchnic nerves composed of?
	Where is the greater splanchnic nerve?

		Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Splanchnic nerves". Read more