Trunk nerves (intercostal, sympathetic, vagus nerve)
Sympathetic ganglia
Ganglia trunci sympathici (thoracica et lumbalia)
- Origin
- Nodular clusters of postganglionic neuronal cell bodies located along the sympathetic trunk (11-12 thoracic, 4-5 lumbar pairs)
- Insertion
- Site of synaptic transmission between myelinated preganglionic fibers (via white rami communicantes) and unmyelinated postganglionic axons (via gray rami communicantes)
- Function
- Relay stations for sympathetic distribution to visceral plexuses, cardiac nerves, and body wall targets (sweat glands, arrector pili, vascular smooth muscle)
- Innervation
- Cholinergic preganglionic and noradrenergic postganglionic neurotransmission
- Movement & chain
- Synaptic neurochemical conduction
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Stellate ganglion block (targeting the cervicothoracic ganglion C7-T1 for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/CRPS of the upper extremity or electrical storm), lumbar sympathetic block for critical limb ischemia.
- Segmental innervation
- T1-L2 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Pre- and post-interventional pain clinic monitoring (confirming Horner's sign to verify successful stellate ganglion blockade, assessing extremity temperature rise)
- Region in the model
- Trunk nerves (intercostal, sympathetic, vagus nerve)