sympathetic trunk

(noun)

Also called the sympathetic chain or gangliated cord, these are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.

Related Terms

  • abdominal peritoneum
  • thoracic spinal nerves
  • platysma
  • plexus
  • cervical plexus

Examples of sympathetic trunk in the following topics:

  • Autonomic Plexuses

    • Autonomic plexuses are formed from both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers and innervate visceral organs to regulate overall activity.
    • It is formed by the superior cardiac branch of the left sympathetic trunk and the lower superior cervical cardiac branch of the left vagus nerve.
    • Pulmonary: The pulmonary plexus is an autonomic plexus formed from pulmonary branches of vagus nerve and the sympathetic trunk.
    • Esophageal: The esophageal plexus is formed by nerve fibers from two sources: branches of the vagus nerve and visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk.
    • This section of the sympathetic trunk shows both the celiac and the hypogastric plexus.
  • Cervical Plexus

    • There is anastomosis with the accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, and sympathetic trunk.
  • Overview of the Spinal Nerves

    • The dorsal ramus contains nerves that serve the dorsal portions of the trunk; it carries visceral motor, somatic motor, and somatic sensory information to and from the skin and muscles of the back (epaxial muscles).
    • The ventral ramus contains nerves that serve the remaining ventral parts of the trunk and the upper and lower limbs (hypaxial muscles); they carry visceral motor, somatic motor, and sensory information to and from the ventrolateral body surface, structures in the body wall, and the limbs.
    • The first and second, and sometimes the third and fourth, lumbar nerves are each connected with the lumbar part of the sympathetic trunk by a white ramus communicans.
    • The smaller part of the fourth joins with the fifth to form the lumbosacral trunk, which assists in the formation of the sacral plexus.
  • Horner's Syndrome

    • Horner's syndrome presents with drooping eyelids and pupil constriction, and is indicative of a problem in the sympathetic nervous system.
    • Horner's syndrome indicates a problem with the sympathetic nervous system, a part of the autonomic nervous system .
    • Partial ptosis: drooping of the upper eyelid from loss of sympathetic innervation to the superior tarsal muscle (Müller's muscle)
    • Loss of ciliospinal reflex: dilation of the pupil in response to pain applied to the neck, face, and upper trunk
    • Sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation of the pupil.
  • Lymph Trunks and Ducts

    • There are four sets of of lymph trunks that are paired with a right and left half, and one unpaired trunk:
    • Lumbar lymph trunks- the lower pair of lymph trunks, which drain lymph fluid from the legs and pelvic region and kidneys.
    • Intestinal lymph trunks—the unpaired lymph trunk that receives chyle (lymph mixed with fats) from the intestines, which typically has a high fatty acid content.
    • There are two lymph ducts that recieve lymph from the lymph trunks.
    • Describe the types of lymph vessels and lymph trunks and their roles
  • Sympathetic Nervous System

    • Sympathetic ganglia are the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system that initiate "fight-or-flight" or stress-mediated responses.
    • Sympathetic ganglia are the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system (see , red fibers).
    • An example of a sympathetic ganglion in a thoracic nerve is shown in .
    • Sympathetic ganglia are the tissue from which neuroblastoma tumours arise.
    • This intercostal nerve shows the sympathetic ganglion at the top left.
  • Brachial Plexus

    • The brachial plexus is divided into roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and branches.
    • Each trunk then splits in two, to form six divisions: The anterior divisions of the upper, middle, and lower trunks and the posterior divisions of the upper, middle, and lower trunks.
    • The posterior cord is formed from the three posterior divisions of the trunks (C5–C8,T1).
    • The lateral cord is the anterior divisions from the upper and middle trunks (C5–C7).
    • The medial cord is simply a continuation of the anterior division of the lower trunk (C8, T1).
  • Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System

    • The autonomic nervous system (ANS) contains two subdivisions; the parasympathetic (PSNS) and sympathetic (SNS) nervous systems.
    • Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions typically function in opposition to each other.
    • The sympathetic division typically functions in actions requiring quick responses.
    • Many think of sympathetic as "fight or flight" and parasympathetic as "rest and digest" or "feed and breed. "
    • Distinguish between the parasympathetic and sympathetic subsystems of the autonomic nervous system
  • Autonomic Interactions

    • The sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous systems cooperatively modulate internal physiology to maintain homeostasis.
    • Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions typically function in opposition to each other (, red indicates sympathetic pathways and blue indicates parasympathetic pathways).
    • The sympathetic division typically functions in actions requiring quick responses.
    • Consider sympathetic as "fight or flight" and parasympathetic as "rest and digest" or "feed and breed. "
    • Some typical actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are listed below.
  • Sympathetic Responses

    • The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system maintains internal organ homeostasis and initiates the stress response.
    • The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for regulating many homeostatic mechanisms in living organisms.
    • Some evolutionary theorists suggest that the sympathetic nervous system operated in early organisms to maintain survival since the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for priming the body for action.
    • One example of this priming is in the moments before waking, in which sympathetic outflow spontaneously increases in preparation for activity.
    • His theory states that animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.