Thoracic Nerves Flashcards
The Intercostal Nerves arise from which spinal cord levels?
T1-T11 (T12 is subcostal)
The twelfth thoracic nerve is called?
Subcostal Nerve
The intercostal nerves arise from?
Thoracic Ventral Rami
The Thoracic Ventral Rami innervate?
The Intercostal Nerves
The Intercostal Nerves innervate?
Skin and muscles of thoracic and abdominal wall
The Intercostal Nerves terminate?
Thoracic and abdominal wall
Which intercostal nerves run inferiorly to the abdominal wall?
T6-T11 nerves (and T12 subcostal nerve) continue inferiorly to the abdominal wall.
Which intercostal nerves connect to the sympathetic chain? What is their function?
T6-T11 nerves (and T12 subcostal nerve)
Allows passage of sympathetic efferent neurons to glands in skin.
the Phrenic Nerve arises from what spinal cord levels?
C3-C5
What is the source of the Phrenic Nerves?
Cervical plexus (ventral rami of cervical spinal nerves)
What is the destination of the Phrenic Nerve?
Diaphragm
What does the Phrenic Nerve innervate?
Parietal pleura along mediastinum and diaphragm, fibrous/parietal pericardial sac, diaphragm
The phrenic nerve can be seen traveling?
Courses anterior to hilum of lung along fibrous pericardium
The source of the vagus nerve?
Medulla of brainstem
The vagus nerve terminates?
Neck, thorax, abdomen
The vagus nerve innervates?
Viscera of neck, thorax, abdomen. Terminates at junction between midgut and hindgut (around splenic flexure).
What fibers run within the vagus nerve?
- Parasympathetic efferent (motor) fibers.
- Afferent (sensory) visceral fibers that play a role in unconscious reflexive control of viscera. Feelings of “unwellness” are detected by these sensory fibers.
The Recurrent laryngeal branches arise from which nerve?
Vagus Nerve
Recurrent laryngeal branches of vagus nerve
terminate?
Larynx
Recurrent laryngeal branches of vagus nerve innervate?
Muscles of the larynx, the lining of the larynx
the Left branch of the Recurrent laryngeal nerves travels?
passes under aortic arch
the Right branch of the Recurrent laryngeal nerves travels
right branch passes under right subclavian artery
The thoracic sympathetic chain arises from which spinal cord levels?
T1-T12
What is the source of the thoracic sympathetic chain?
Thoracic Spinal Nerves
The thoracic sympathetic chain terminates/are destined for?
Peripheral sympathetic fibers that follow peripheral nerves to glands and vasculature of periphery (e.g. arteries to limb muscles, sweat glands), splanchnic fibers to viscera
Thoracic Sympathetic Chain innervates?
Glands and viscera of head, neck, thorax, abdomen
Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves arise from which spinal cord levels?
T5-T9
Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves terminate/are destined for?
Celiac ganglion and superior mesenteric ganglion
Greater thoracic splanchnic nerves innervate?
Pre-aortic ganglia which have fibers linking to abdominal viscera (foregut, midgut)
How do the greater thoracic splanchnic nerves travel?
Fibers project inferomedially to pass behind diaphragm to get to gut viscera
What is the source of the greater thoracic splanchnic nerves?
Thoracic sympathetic chain
