Prevertebral ganglia (or collateral ganglia, or preaortic ganglia) lie between the

sympathetic ganglia The sympathetic ganglia, or paravertebral ganglia are autonomic ganglia, of the sympathetic nervous system. Ganglia are 20,000 to 30,000 afferent and efferent nerve cell bodies that run along on either side of the spinal cord. Afferent nerve c ...

and the target organ.

Function

Similar to the

paravertebral ganglia The sympathetic ganglia, or paravertebral ganglia are autonomic ganglia, of the sympathetic nervous system. Ganglia are 20,000 to 30,000 afferent and efferent nerve cell bodies that run along on either side of the spinal cord. Afferent nerve cel ...

, the prevertebral ganglia are the nodules where

preganglionic neurons 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 ...

synapse with their

postganglionic In the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the ganglion to the wikt:effector, effector organ are called postganglionic fibers. Neurotransmitters The neurotransmitters of postganglionic fibers differ: * In the parasympathetic division, neuro ...

counterparts. The nerves that synapse in the prevertebral ganglia innervate the pelvic viscera. Some of the targets present in the pelvic viscera include the

enteric nervous system The enteric nervous system (ENS) or intrinsic nervous system is one of the main divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. It is capable of ...

, as well as the renal system, bladder, and any other organs present in the abdomen.

Physiology

Nerves arising from the lateral horn of the

spinal cord The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the spi ...

are those of the

autonomic nervous system The autonomic nervous system (ANS), formerly referred to as the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies viscera, internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervous system is a control ...

. They exit through the ventral root of the spinal cord, and continue through the ventral rami. At that point, they sharply branch to go through the

white ramus communicans The white ramus communicans (plural: rami communicantes) from Latin ramus (branch) and communicans (communicating) is the preganglionic sympathetic outflow nerve tract from the spinal cord. Each of the thoracic, and the first and second lumbar ner ...

of the paravertebral body. Unlike the thoracic and cutaneous nerves, the ANS nerves destined for the pelvic viscera continue through the paravertebral ganglia without synapsing. Instead of synapsing, they continue through splanchnic nerves until they reach a prevertebral ganglia (located proximally to their target organ). Once inside the prevertebral ganglia, the individual neurons comprising the nerve synapse with their postganglionic neuron. The postganglionic nerve then proceeds to innervate their targets (pelvic visceral organs).

Examples

These include 1. the

celiac ganglia The celiac ganglia or coeliac ganglia are two large irregularly shaped masses of nerve tissue in the upper abdomen. Part of the sympathetic subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the two celiac ganglia are the largest ganglia in t ...

(which can include the

aorticorenal ganglion The aorticorenal ganglion is composed of the superior mesenteric, renal, and inferior mesenteric ganglia. This is distinct from the celiac ganglia. However, they are part of the preaortic ganglia. Sympathetic input to the gut comes from the sy ...

), 2.

superior mesenteric ganglia The superior mesenteric ganglion is a ganglion in the upper part of the superior mesenteric plexus. It lies close to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Structure The superior mesenteric ganglion is the synapsing point for one of the ...

, and 3.

inferior mesenteric ganglia Inferior may refer to: * Inferiority complex * An anatomical term of location * Inferior angle of the scapula, in the human skeleton * ''Inferior'' (book), by Angela Saini * ''The Inferior'', a 2007 novel by Peadar Ó Guilín See also *Junior (di ...

Function

Physiology

Examples

See also

Additional images

References

External links