The abdominal aortic plexus (not to be confused with the

thoracic aortic plexus The thoracic aortic plexus is a sympathetic plexus in the region of the thoracic aorta The descending thoracic aorta is a part of the aorta located in the thorax. It is a continuation of the aortic arch. It is located within the posterior mediast ...

) is formed by branches derived, on either side, from the

celiac plexus The celiac plexus, also known as the solar plexus because of its radiating nerve fibers, is a complex network of nerves located in the abdomen, near where the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries branch from the abdomin ...

and

ganglia A ganglion is a group of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system. In the somatic nervous system this includes dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia among a few others. In the autonomic nervous system there are both sympatheti ...

, and receives filaments from some of the

lumbar ganglia The lumbar ganglia are paravertebral ganglia located in the inferior portion of the sympathetic trunk. The lumbar portion of the sympathetic trunk typically has 4 lumbar ganglia. The lumbar splanchnic nerves arise from the ganglia here, and contr ...

. It is situated upon the sides and front of the

aorta The aorta ( ) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes ...

, between the origins of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. From this plexus arise part of the

spermatic The spermatic plexus (or testicular plexus) is derived from the renal plexus, receiving branches from the aortic plexus. It accompanies the internal spermatic artery to the testis A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive ...

, the inferior mesenteric, and the hypogastric plexuses; it also distributes filaments to the

inferior vena cava The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the ...

. The abdominal aortic plexus contains the spermatic ganglia, the inferior mesenteric ganglion, and th
prehypogastric
ganglion.

Additional images

Image:Gray838.png, The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. Image:Gray847.png, Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses. Image:Gray849.png, Lower half of right sympathetic cord.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Nerve plexus Nerves of the torso