Superior cardiac nerve
Encyclopedia
The superior cardiac nerve arises by two or more branches from the superior cervical ganglion
, and occasionally receives a filament from the trunk between the first and second cervical ganglia.
It runs down the neck behind the common carotid artery
, and in front of the Longus colli muscle
; and crosses in front of the inferior thyroid artery
, and recurrent nerve.
The course of the nerves on the two sides then differ.
, and along the innominate artery to the back of the arch of the aorta, where it joins the deep part of the cardiac plexus
.
It is connected with other branches of the sympathetic; about the middle of the neck it receives filaments from the external laryngeal nerve; lower down, one or two twigs from the vagus; and as it enters the thorax it is joined by a filament from the recurrent nerve.
Filaments from the nerve communicate with the thyroid branches from the middle cervical ganglion
.
and across the left side of the arch of the aorta, to the superficial part of the cardiac plexus
.
Superior cervical ganglion
The superior cervical ganglion , the largest of the cervical ganglia, is placed opposite the second and third cervical vertebræ. It contains neurons that supply sympathetic innervation to the face....
, and occasionally receives a filament from the trunk between the first and second cervical ganglia.
It runs down the neck behind the common carotid artery
Common carotid artery
In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries. - Structure :...
, and in front of the Longus colli muscle
Longus colli muscle
The Longus colli muscle is a muscle of the human body.The Longus colli is situated on the anterior surface of the vertebral column, between the atlas and the third thoracic vertebra....
; and crosses in front of the inferior thyroid artery
Inferior thyroid artery
The inferior thyroid artery arrises from the thyrocervical trunk and passes upward, in front of the vertebral artery and Longus colli, then turns medially behind the carotid sheath and its contents, and also behind the sympathetic trunk, the middle cervical ganglion resting upon the...
, and recurrent nerve.
The course of the nerves on the two sides then differ.
Right nerve
The right nerve, at the root of the neck, passes either in front of or behind the subclavian arterySubclavian artery
In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are two major arteries of the upper thorax , below the clavicle . They receive blood from the top of the aorta...
, and along the innominate artery to the back of the arch of the aorta, where it joins the deep part of the cardiac plexus
Cardiac plexus
The cardiac plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the heart that innervates the heart.-Structure:The cardiac plexus is divided into a superficial part, which lies in the concavity of the aortic arch, and a deep part, between the aortic arch and the trachea.The two parts are, however,...
.
It is connected with other branches of the sympathetic; about the middle of the neck it receives filaments from the external laryngeal nerve; lower down, one or two twigs from the vagus; and as it enters the thorax it is joined by a filament from the recurrent nerve.
Filaments from the nerve communicate with the thyroid branches from the middle cervical ganglion
Middle cervical ganglion
The middle cervical ganglion is the smallest of the three cervical ganglia, and is occasionally absent.It is placed opposite the sixth cervical vertebra, usually in front of, or close to, the inferior thyroid artery....
.
Left nerve
The left nerve, in the thorax, runs in front of the left common carotid arteryCommon carotid artery
In human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an artery that supplies the head and neck with oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the external and internal carotid arteries. - Structure :...
and across the left side of the arch of the aorta, to the superficial part of the cardiac plexus
Cardiac plexus
The cardiac plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the heart that innervates the heart.-Structure:The cardiac plexus is divided into a superficial part, which lies in the concavity of the aortic arch, and a deep part, between the aortic arch and the trachea.The two parts are, however,...
.