View source for Cervical Sympathetic System

== Cervical ganglia ==
[[Image:Gray844.png|thumb|right|Diagram of the cervical ganglia]] There are '''3 ganglia''' in the neck: ggl.&nbsp;cervicale ''superius'', ''medium'' et ''inferius''. ''Ganglion cervicale inferius'' usually merges with the 1st thoracic ggl.&nbsp;into the common ''ggl.&nbsp;cervicothoracicum'' ('''ggl.&nbsp;stellatum''').

=== Ganglion cervicale superius ===
It is deposited anterior to the transverse processes of C2–C4. Preganglionic fibers come via ''truncus sympathicus'' from the junction of the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. The ganglion sends postganglionic fibers (''rr.&nbsp;communicantes grisei'') to 4 cervical nerves:
* '''''N.&nbsp;jugularis''''' – branch going into ''ggl.&nbsp;inferius nervi glossopharyngei'' and into ''ggl.&nbsp;superius [[Vagus nerve|n.&nbsp;vagi]]'', sympathetic fibers go further with the branching of [[nervus vagus|n.&nbsp;IX]] and [[Nervus glossopharyngeus|n.&nbsp;X]].
* '''''N.&nbsp;caroticus internus''''' – to [[Arteria carotis interna|''a.&nbsp;carotis interna'']] and forms the ''plexus caroticus internus'', on it, from which other nerves branch off along the branches of the ''a.&nbsp;carotis interna'' in the skull:
** ''nn.&nbsp;caroticotympanici'';
** ''n.&nbsp;petrosus profundus''.
* '''''Nn.&nbsp;carotici externi''''' – form a periarterial plexus on the [[a.&nbsp;carotis externa]]. The plexus continues along all branches of the artery (''plexus facialis, plexus lingualis, plexus temporalis superficialis, plexus maxillaris'', atd.). Separate sympathetic branches depart from the plexus: ''radix sympathica [[ganglion oticum|ggl.&nbsp;otici]]'' a ''radix sympathica [[ganglion submandibulare|ggl.&nbsp;submandibulares]]''.
* '''N. cardiacus cervicalis superius''' - descends into [[Nerves of the heart|plexus cardiacus]].

=== Ganglion cervicale medium ===
It is at the level of the transverse process of C5, usually at the level where the truncus sympathicus crosses with ''a.&nbsp;thyroidea inf.'' Preganglionic fibers go to the ggl.&nbsp;via the [[sympathetic trunk]]  from the junction of the cervical and thoracic spinal cord. Ganglion sends out postganglionic fibers:
* '''''rr.&nbsp;communicantes grisei''''' into the C4 a C5 nerves;
* branches into '''''plexus thyroideus inferior''''' for the [[thyroid gland|thyroid gland]] and parathyroid glands;
* '''''n.&nbsp;cardiacus cervicalis medius''''' – descends behind the [[a.&nbsp;carotis communis]] a afterwards before the [[a.&nbsp;subclavia]] into plexus cardiacus.

=== Ganglion stellatum ===
[[Image:Gray845.png|thumb|right|Ganglion stellatum]]
It is located in front of the transverse process of C7, behind the distance of the ''[[a.&nbsp;vertebralis]]'' from ''a.&nbsp;subclavia''. Preganglionic fibers pass from the C8 and Th1–Th3 nerves. Postganglionic fibers go as ''rr.&nbsp;communicantes grisei'' to spinal nerves C7, C8 and Th1–Th3, both as:
* branches to the '''''plexus subclavius''''' – they form a periarterial plexus, which then passes to all the connecting arteries of the upper limb;
* '''''n.&nbsp;vertebralis''''' – goes forward to''a. vertebralis'' where it forms the ''plexus vertebralis'';
* '''''n.&nbsp;cardiacus cervicalis inferior''''' – descends behind ''a.&nbsp;subclavia'' into ''plexus cardiacus''.
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