Thoracic Neurology Flashcards
where are the constrictions of the esophagus?
at the cricopharyngeus muscle (aka the upper esophageal sphincter), at the aortic arch, at the left bronchus, at the esophageal hiatus of the thoracic diaphragm (aka the lower esophageal sphincter)
what cranial nerves are associated with the thorax?
the vagus nerve
while the right vagus nerve is still in the neck, what does it give rise to?
the right recurrent laryngeal nerve
what is the route of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve?
it goes under the subclavian artery and back up to the larynx
when does the left vagus nerve produce the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
on the left side- the vagus nerve goes all the way to the thorax before it makes the left recurrent laryngeal nerve
what is the route of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
it goes under the aortic arch and back up the the larynx
both right and left vagus nerve produce what branches?
cardiac branches
what are the cardiac branches and what are they carrying?
they are carrying parasympathetics, the cardiac branches are the superior, middle, and inferior cardiac branch
where do the superior and middle cardiac branches come off the vagus nerve?
in the neck
where do the inferior cardiac branches come off the vagus nerve?
in the thorax
what is the last main thing the vagus nerves do before becoming one large messy plexus?
they produce vagal trunk
what are the vagal trunks and what are the precursors?
you will have an anterior and posterior vagal trunk (left vagus nerve becomes the anterior vagal trunk; right vagus nerve become the posterior vagal trunk)
what is the cervical nerve that is associated with the thorax?
the phrenic nerve (C3-5)
what is the route of the phrenic nerve in the thorax?
travels through the superior thoracic aperture, into the space between the mediastinal parietal pleura and fibrous pericardium
how are the intercostal nerves described?
atypical and typical
what are the typical intercostal nerves?
intercostal nerves 3-6
what makes the first two intercostal nerves atypica?
they are still a part of the brachial plexus
what makes intercostal nerves 7-11 atypical?
they start off as intercostal nerves, but when they get anterior there are no more ribs, so they become thoracoabdominal nerves
what is the pulmonary plexus innervating?
lungs, bronchi, and pleura
what is the sympathetic contribution to the pulmonary plexus?
pulmonary splanchnic nerves (post synpatic)
what is the parasympathetic contribution to the pulmonary plexus?
the pulmonary branches of the vagus nerve (pre-synaptic)
what do the superficial and deep cardiac plexuses innervate?
the heart
what is the sympathetic contribution to the superficial and deep cardiac plexuses?
cardiac splanchnic nerves
what is the parasympathetic contribution to the superficial and deep cardiac plexuses?
the superior, middle, and inferior cardiac branches of the vagus nerve
what is the aortic plexus used for?
it is not really used for innervating anything, but for getting innervation down to the abdomen
what is the sympathetic contribution to the aortic plexus?
continuous with the superficial cardiac plexus
what is the parasympathetic contribution to the aortic plexus?
it is continuous with the superficial cardiac plexus
what is the esophageal plexus innervating?
the esophagus
what is the sympathetic contribution to the esophageal plexus?
the greater splanchnic nerve
what is the parasympathetic contribution to the esophageal plexus?
the esophageal branches of the vagus nerve
