Where are prevertebral ganglia located?
Prevertebral ganglia are classified as sympathetic ganglia. Unlike parasympathetic ganglia, which are located in close proximity to or within the target organ, sympathetic ganglia are situated at a distance from the innervated organs.
The prevertebral ganglion is located more peripherally than the sympathetic trunk. Prevertebral ganglia are situated in the abdominal cavity and include the celiac plexus and mesenteric ganglia. The celiac plexus, superior and inferior mesenteric ganglia, and cervical ganglia are also referred to as prevertebral.
Which nerve fibers pass through the ganglion?
- Preganglionic sympathetic fibers: originate in the spinal cord, emerge as part of the anterior root, branch off as the white communicating ramus, and enter the sympathetic trunk. Within the sympathetic trunk, some preganglionic fibers pass through without synapsing and terminate on second-order neurons in the prevertebral ganglia.
- Postganglionic sympathetic fibers: after synapsing in the ganglia, they form perivascular plexuses that extend to the organs.
- Afferent fibers: the diagram shows a sensory fiber from the intestinal wall passing through the prevertebral ganglion, sympathetic trunk, white ramus, and posterior root into the spinal cord. Extensive connections between gastric nerves and nerves of adjacent organs — the liver, duodenum, and pancreas — explain the irradiation of pain and dysfunction in one organ when others are diseased.
Mechanism of synaptic transmission
In prevertebral ganglia, excitation is transmitted from a preganglionic fiber to a postganglionic neuron. This mechanism of signal transmission from preganglionic fiber to postganglionic neuron is identical for both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
- Neurotransmitter: acetylcholine (ACh).
- Receptor type: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Celiac plexus
Celiac plexus (plexus celiacus) is the largest autonomic plexus in the abdominal cavity; in older textbooks, it is referred to as the "solar plexus".
- Topography: located in the retroperitoneal space at the level of the XII thoracic vertebra. It is situated on the anterior surface of the aorta, lateral to the celiac trunk; its position is also described as lateral to the base of the truncus celiacus, lateral to the aorta, near the adrenal glands. Anteriorly, it lies within the retroperitoneal adipose tissue of the posterior abdominal wall and is covered by the parietal peritoneum of the posterior wall of the lesser sac. The inferior border is the level of origin of the renal arteries from the aorta.
- Composition of ganglia: includes two celiac ganglia (ganglia celiaca), two aorticorenal ganglia (ganglia aortorenalia), and the unpaired superior mesenteric ganglion (ganglion mesentericum superius).
- Fibers and branches: the greater and lesser splanchnic nerves (nn. splanchnici major et minor), carrying preganglionic sympathetic fibers, enter the ganglia; branches of the nn. splanchnici thoracici major et minor, branches of the n. vagus, and branches of the phrenicoabdominal nerves (rr. phrenicoabdominales) via the celiac plexus are also indicated.
- Connections: connected superiorly with the plexus aorticus thoracicus and inferiorly with the plexus mesentericus superior.
Innervated structures
Postganglionic fibers relaying in the prevertebral ganglion innervate internal organs.
- Celiac plexus: innervates organs of the upper storey of the abdominal cavity: stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys. Sources of innervation for the duodenum include the celiac plexus, superior mesenteric plexus, and other periarterial plexuses.
- Superior mesenteric plexus: innervates the intestines.
- Inferior mesenteric plexus: innervates pelvic organs: urinary bladder, reproductive organs.
- Cervical ganglia: the superior cervical ganglion innervates structures of the head, including the eye.
Prevertebral ganglia are located more peripherally than the sympathetic trunk; paravertebral ganglia form the sympathetic trunk.
Class and exam questions
How do prevertebral ganglia differ from paravertebral ones?
Paravertebral ganglia are part of the sympathetic trunk located on both sides of the spine. The prevertebral ganglion is located more peripherally than the sympathetic trunk; preganglionic fibers that have passed through the sympathetic trunk transit approach it.
Which neurotransmitter is released in the synapses of prevertebral ganglia?
During the transmission of excitation from a preganglionic fiber to a postganglionic neuron, the neurotransmitter is acetylcholine, and the receptors are nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Do sensory fibers pass through the prevertebral ganglion?
Yes. The diagram shows a sensory fiber from the intestinal wall that passes transit through the prevertebral ganglion, sympathetic trunk, white ramus, and posterior root into the spinal cord.
What else to study on this topic
- Celiac plexus (plexus celiacus)
- Sympathetic trunk (truncus sympathicus)
- Autonomic innervation of internal organs
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