The splanchnic nerves are paired nerves that contribute to the innervation of the viscera, carrying fibers of the autonomic nervous system

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...

 (visceral efferent fibers) as well as sensory fibers from the organs (visceral afferent fibers). All carry sympathetic

Sympathetic nervous system

The sympathetic nervous system is one of the three parts of the autonomic nervous system, along with the enteric and parasympathetic systems. Its general action is to mobilize the body's nervous system fight-or-flight response...

 fibers except for the pelvic splanchnic nerves

Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the hindgut.-Structure:...

, which carry parasympathetic fibers.

Types

The term splanchnic nerves can refer to:

• Cardiopulmonary nerves
  Cardiopulmonary nerves
  Cardiopulmonary nerves are splanchnic nerves that are postsynaptic and sympathetic. They originate in cervical and upper thoracic ganglia and innervate the thoracic cavity....
  
  
• Thoracic splanchnic nerves
  Thoracic splanchnic nerves
  Thoracic splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the sympathetic trunk in the thorax and travel inferiorly to provide sympathetic innervation to the abdomen...
  
   (greater, lesser, and least)
• Lumbar splanchnic nerves
  Lumbar splanchnic nerves
  The lumbar splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the lumbar part of the sympathetic trunk and travel to an adjacent plexus near the aorta...
  
  
• Sacral splanchnic nerves
  Sacral splanchnic nerves
  Sacral splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that connect the inferior hypogastric plexus to the sympathetic trunk in the pelvis.-Structure:...
  
  
• Pelvic splanchnic nerves
  Pelvic splanchnic nerves
  Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the hindgut.-Structure:...
  
  

Comparison

Nerve		Pre-/postsynaptic	autonomic system !! Origin !! Targets
Cardiopulmonary nerves Cardiopulmonary nerves Cardiopulmonary nerves are splanchnic nerves that are postsynaptic and sympathetic. They originate in cervical and upper thoracic ganglia and innervate the thoracic cavity....		Postsynaptic	sympathetic Sympathetic nervous system The sympathetic nervous system is one of the three parts of the autonomic nervous system, along with the enteric and parasympathetic systems. Its general action is to mobilize the body's nervous system fight-or-flight response...	cervical Cervical ganglia The cervical ganglia are paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. These emerging postganglionic nerves synapse with preganglionic nerves from the thoracic spinal cord. They consist of three paravertebral ganglia:* superior cervical ganglion...  and upper thoracic ganglia Thoracic ganglia The thoracic ganglia are paravertebral ganglia. The thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunk typically has 12 thoracic ganglia. Emerging from the ganglia are thoracic splanchnic nerves that help provide sympathetic innervation to abdominal structures.Also, the ganglia of the thoracic sympathetic...	Thoracic cavity Thoracic cavity The thoracic cavity is the chamber of the human body that is protected by the thoracic wall ....
Thoracic splanchnic nerves Thoracic splanchnic nerves Thoracic splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the sympathetic trunk in the thorax and travel inferiorly to provide sympathetic innervation to the abdomen...	generally	Presynaptic		lower thoracic ganglia Thoracic ganglia The thoracic ganglia are paravertebral ganglia. The thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunk typically has 12 thoracic ganglia. Emerging from the ganglia are thoracic splanchnic nerves that help provide sympathetic innervation to abdominal structures.Also, the ganglia of the thoracic sympathetic...	Prevertebral ganglia
	Greater splanchnic nerve			T5 Thoracic spinal nerve 5 The thoracic spinal nerve 5 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 5 .... -T9 Thoracic spinal nerve 9 The thoracic spinal nerve 9 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 9 ....  or T10 Thoracic spinal nerve 10 The thoracic spinal nerve 10 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 10 ....	Celiac ganglia Celiac ganglia The celiac ganglia or coeliac ganglia are two large irregularly shaped masses of nerve tissue in the upper abdomen. Part of the sympathetic subdivision of the autonomic nervous system , the two celiac ganglia are the largest ganglia in the ANS, and they innervate most of the digestive tract.They...
	Lesser splanchnic nerve			T10 Thoracic spinal nerve 10 The thoracic spinal nerve 10 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 10 .... -T11 Thoracic spinal nerve 11 The thoracic spinal nerve 11 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 11 ....	Superior mesenteric ganglia and Aorticorenal ganglia
	Least splanchnic nerve			T12 Thoracic spinal nerve 12 The thoracic spinal nerve 12 is a spinal nerve of the thoracic segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the thoracic vertebra 12 ....	Renal plexus Renal plexus The renal plexus is formed by filaments from the celiac plexus, the aorticorenal ganglion, and the aortic plexus .It is joined also by the least splanchnic nerve....
Lumbar splanchnic nerves Lumbar splanchnic nerves The lumbar splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that arise from the lumbar part of the sympathetic trunk and travel to an adjacent plexus near the aorta...				L1 Lumbar spinal nerve 1 The lumbar spinal nerve 1 is a spinal nerve of the lumbar segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the lumbar vertebra 1 .The two terminal branches of this nerve is the iliohypogastric and the ilioinguinal nerves-Muscles:... -2 Lumbar spinal nerve 2 The lumbar spinal nerve 2 is a spinal nerve of the lumbar segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the lumbar vertebra 2 .-Muscles:...	Inferior mesenteric ganglia, ganglia of intermesenteric Intermesenteric plexus The Intermesenteric plexus is a nerve plexus on the abdominal aorta, between the exits of the superior and inferior mesenteric artery.The lumbar splanchnic nerve terminates here, among other places....  and hypogastric plexus Hypogastric plexus Hypogastric plexus can refer to:* Superior hypogastric plexus* Inferior hypogastric plexus... es
Sacral splanchnic nerves Sacral splanchnic nerves Sacral splanchnic nerves are splanchnic nerves that connect the inferior hypogastric plexus to the sympathetic trunk in the pelvis.-Structure:...				sacral part of sympathetic trunk Sympathetic trunk The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...	inferior hypogastric plexus Inferior hypogastric plexus The inferior hypogastric plexus is a plexus of nerves that supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity.The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure, with each situated on the side of the rectum in the male, and at the sides of the rectum and vagina in the female.-Sources:Contributions to...  and ganglia to the pelvic viscera
Pelvic splanchnic nerves Pelvic splanchnic nerves Pelvic splanchnic nerves or nervi erigentes are splanchnic nerves that arise from sacral spinal nerves S2, S3, S4 to provide parasympathetic innervation to the hindgut.-Structure:...			parasympathetic Parasympathetic nervous system The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system . The ANS is responsible for regulation of internal organs and glands, which occurs unconsciously...	S2 Sacral spinal nerve 2 The sacral spinal nerve 2 is a spinal nerve of the sacral segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the 2nd body of the sacrum -Muscles:... -S4 Sacral spinal nerve 4 The sacral spinal nerve 4 is a spinal nerve of the sacral segment..It originates from the spinal column from below the 4th body of the sacrum -Muscles:...	intrinsic ganglia of descending Descending colon The descending colon of humans passes downward through the left hypochondrium and lumbar regions, along the lateral border of the left kidney....  and sigmoid colon Sigmoid colon The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum and anus. It forms a loop that averages about 40 cm... , rectum Rectum The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long... , and inferior hypogastric plexus Inferior hypogastric plexus The inferior hypogastric plexus is a plexus of nerves that supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity.The inferior hypogastric plexus is a paired structure, with each situated on the side of the rectum in the male, and at the sides of the rectum and vagina in the female.-Sources:Contributions to...  and ganglia to the pelvic viscera