Ganglion Sympathetic Prevertebral

Sympathetic ganglia are located in the paravertebral spaces, in close proximity to the spinal column. The sympathetic prevertebral ganglia are located in the intervertebral spaces, at the level of each thoracic and lumbar vertebra. They lie on either side of the spine, between the arch and the anterior surface of the transverse processes of the vertebrae, and on the dorsal surface of the transverse processes, at the level of the facet joints.

The prevertebral sympathetic ganglia look like small, rounded structures the size of a pea, located lateral to the corresponding intervertebral foramina. Ganglia have a connective tissue capsule covered on the outside with a layer of fatty tissue. The connective tissue capsule lies superficial to the muscles covering the spine and to the intervertebral fascia.

The sympathetic prevertebral ganglia have many branches that go to various parts of the body. Some of them emerge as nerves from the ganglion and innervate the muscles located around the spine. Other branches form plexuses near the spine and innervate internal organs such as the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, etc.

Sympathetic ganglia, autonomic or parasympathetic (plexus autonomici), are located on the transverse processes of T1 to T3 - L1. They are divided into subgroups according to their position relative to the vertebral body, and according to the distribution of the motor nerve bundle. In this text you will become familiar with one of these sympathetic ganglia, the prevertebral ganglion.

The sympathetic preverteral ganglion is located within the spinal canal between the I and II lumbar vertebrae. Histologically, this nerve has three parts: the extracentral plexus, the reticular (transverse) division and the center, consisting of two nuclei. The sympathetic ganglion includes a neural part, represented by intercalary nerve cells, and a nerve fiber (neurite), which is axons directed to the spinal cord and the lumbar spinal ganglion.

Sympathetic fibers arise from the prevertebral ganglia of the VII cervical and I–II spinal nerves through the intercostal nerve and exit under the skin in the area adjacent to the spinal column (next to the crura of the diaphragm). Next, the fibers rise to the two nuclei of the heart, from where they are sent to the chambers of the heart, forming its innervation, and also innervate the mucous membranes of the internal organs. This mechanism causes the blood vessels to constrict, increasing the force of heart contractions and increasing their frequency, which leads to an increase in blood supply to the lungs and brain, but reduces blood supply to all other organs and tissues of the body.

Thus, the prevertebral sympathetic ganglion is involved in the regulation of the tone of the cardiovascular system and thermoregulation of the body