The cardiac nerves are autonomic nerves which supply the
heart
The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to t ...
.
They include:
*
Superior cardiac nerve
The superior cardiac nerve arises by two or more branches from the superior cervical ganglion, and occasionally receives a filament from the trunk between the first and second cervical ganglia. It runs down the neck behind the common carotid arte ...
[ (nervus cardiacus cervicalis superior)
* ]Middle cardiac nerve
The middle cardiac nerve (''great cardiac nerve''), the largest of the three cardiac nerves, arises from the middle cervical ganglion, or from the trunk between the middle and inferior ganglia.
On the right side it descends behind the common c ...
[ (nervus cardiacus cervicalis medius)
* ]Inferior cardiac nerve
The inferior cardiac nerve arises from either the inferior cervical or the first thoracic ganglion.
It descends behind the subclavian artery and along the front of the trachea, to join the deep part of the cardiac plexus.
It communicates free ...
[ (nervus cardiacus inferior)]
Anatomy
The nerves go down to the root of the neck with these following association:
Posterior: "prevertebral fascia overlying anterolateral surface of vertebral bodies"
Superior: "common carotid artery"
Inferior: "subclavian artery"
Laterally: "sympathetic trunk"
References
Cardiology
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