sympathetic chain ganglia

(noun)

Also called the paravertebral ganglia, these are located just ventral and lateral to the spinal cord. The chain extends from the upper neck down to the coccyx, forming the unpaired coccygeal ganglion.

Related Terms

Examples of sympathetic chain ganglia in the following topics:

  • Sympathetic Nervous System

    • Sympathetic ganglia are the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system that initiate fight-or-flight, stress-mediated responses.
    • The sympathetic ganglia are the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system (the red lines in the diagram below).
    • An example of a sympathetic ganglion in a thoracic nerve is shown in . ganglia contain approximately 20000–30000 nerve cell bodies and are located close to and on either side of the spinal cord in long chains.
    • Sympathetic ganglia are the tissue from which neuroblastoma tumours arise.
    • The bilaterally symmetric sympathetic chain ganglia, also called the paravertebral ganglia, are located just ventral and lateral to the spinal cord.

  • Autonomic Ganglia

    • The two main categories are: sympathetic ganglia and parasympathetic ganglia.
    • Sympathetic ganglia are the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system.
    • Sympathetic ganglia are the tissue from which neuroblastoma tumors arise.
    • The bilaterally symmetric sympathetic chain ganglia—also called the paravertebral ganglia—are located just ventral and lateral to the spinal cord.
    • The sympathetic connections of the ciliary and superior cervical ganglia are shown in this digram.

  • Preganglionic Neurons

    • In the autonomic nervous system (ANS), nerve fibers that connect the central nervous system to ganglia are known as preganglionic fibers.
    • Sympathetic preganglionic fibers tend to be shorter than parasympathetic preganglionic fibers because sympathetic ganglia are often closer to the spinal cord while parasympathetic preganglionic fibers tend to project to and synapse with the postganglionic fiber close to the target organ.
    • The sympathetic division has thoracolumbar outflow, meaning that the neurons begin at the thoracic and lumbar (T1–L2) portions of the spinal cord.
    • The paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic chain (these run on either side of the vertebral bodies), cervical ganglia, thoracic ganglia, rostral lumbar ganglia, caudal lumbar ganglia, and pelvic ganglia.
    • The site of synapse formation and this divergence for both the sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons does, however, occur within ganglia situated within the peripheral nervous system.

  • Parasympathetic (Craniosacral) Division

    • Parasympathetic ganglia are the autonomic ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system that lie near or within the organs they innervate.
    • Parasympathetic ganglia are the autonomic ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system, blue fibers).
    • Most are small terminal ganglia or intramural ganglia, so named because they lie near or within (respectively) the organs they innervate.
    • Each has three roots entering the ganglion (motor, sympathetic, and sensory roots) and a variable number of exiting branches.
    • The sympathetic root carries postsynaptic sympathetic fibers (general visceral efferent fibers) that traverse the ganglion without creating a synapse.

  • Enteric Nervous System

    • The neurons of the ENS are collected into two types of ganglia:
    • The myenteric plexus is mainly organized as a longitudinal chains of neurons.
    • These tissues also send information back to the sympathetic pre-vertebral ganglia, the spinal cord, and the brain stem.
    • It normally communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the parasympathetic (e.g., via the vagus nerve) and sympathetic (e.g., via the prevertebral ganglia) nervous systems.
    • Conversely, stimulation of the enteric nerves by the sympathetic nervous system will inhibit enteric function and capabilities.

  • Postganglionic Neurons

    • In the sympathetic division, most are adrenergic, meaning they use norepinephrine as their neurotransmitter.
    • The activation of target tissue receptors causes the effects associated with the sympathetic system.
    • The chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla are analogous to post-ganglionic neurons—the adrenal medulla develops in tandem with the sympathetic nervous system and acts as a modified sympathetic ganglion.
    • Presynaptic nerves' axons terminate in either the paravertebral ganglia or prevertebral ganglia.
    • This differs from the sympathetic nervous system, where synapses between pre- and post-ganglionic efferent nerves in general occur at ganglia that are farther away from the target organ.

  • Clusters of Neuronal Cell Bodies

    • One exception is the basal ganglia which are located not in the periphery but rather in the forebrain.
    • Ganglia are composed mainly of neuron cell bodies (somata) and dendritic structures.
    • Satellite glial cells (SGCs) also surround neuron cell bodies within ganglia.
    • SGCs have been found to hold a variety of roles, including control over the microenvironment of sympathetic ganglia.
    • Satellite glial cells are expressed throughout the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia in their respective nervous system divisions.

  • Autonomic Plexuses

    • Autonomic plexuses are formed from sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers that innervate and regulate the overall activity of visceral organs.
    • Autonomic plexuses are formed from sympathetic postganglionic axons, parasympathetic preganglionic axons, and some visceral sensory axons.
    • The pulmonary plexus is an autonomic plexus formed from pulmonary branches of vagus nerve and the sympathetic trunk.
    • The abdominal aortic plexus is formed by branches derived, on either side, from the celiac plexus and ganglia, and receives filaments from some of the lumbar ganglia.
    • This section of the sympathetic trunk shows both the celiac and the hypogastric plexus.

  • Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

    • It is classically divided into two subsystems: the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
    • The fibers originate in the sympathetic ganglia of T-5 to L-2 and terminate mainly on the enteric plexuses, but also a few nerves terminate in the mucosa it self.
    • Stimulation of the enteric nerves by the sympathetic system inhibits GI activity.

  • Subdivisions of the Nervous System

    • However, there are a few notable exceptions to this rule, including a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which will be discussed later.
    • The ANS is classically divided into two subsystems: the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
    • The sympathetic nervous syste is responsible for stimulating activities associated with the "fight-or-flight" response: mobilizing the systems of the body for escape or attacking sources of danger.
    • In truth, the functions of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are not so straightforward, but this division is a useful rule of thumb.
    • The left-right pair of cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and ganglia make up the peripheral nervous system (shown in dark gold).