The pulmonary plexus is an
autonomic plexus formed from
pulmonary branches of vagus nerve and the
sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks (sympathetic chain, gangliated cord) are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. They are a major component of the sympathetic nervous system.
Structure
The sympathetic trunk lies j ...
. The plexus is in continuity with the deep cardiac plexus.
Structure
It innervates the
bronchial tree and the visceral pleura. According to the relation of nerves to the
root of the lung
The root of the lung is a group of structures that emerge at the hilum of each lung, just above the middle of the mediastinal surface and behind the cardiac impression of the lung. It is nearer to the back (posterior border) than the front (ant ...
, the pulmonary plexus is divided into the
anterior pulmonary plexus, which lies in front of the lung and the
posterior pulmonary plexus, which lies behind the lung. The anterior pulmonary plexus is close in proximity to the pulmonary artery.
The posterior pulmonary plexus is bounded by the superior edge of the pulmonary artery and the lower edge of the pulmonary vein.
Both lungs are innervated primarily by the posterior pulmonary plexus; it accounts for 74–77% of the total innervation.
References
External links
Nerves of the torso
Vagus nerve
Nerve plexus
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