Middle cervical ganglion

Middle cervical ganglion
Diagram of the cervical sympathetic. ("Middle cervical ganglion" labeled at center right.)
Details
FromMiddle cardiac nerve
InnervatesThyroid
Identifiers
Latinganglion cervicale medium
TA98A14.3.01.016
TA26609
FMA6468
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The middle cervical ganglion is the smallest of the three cervical sympathetic ganglia (i.e. of the cervical portion of the sympathetic trunk).[1] It presumably represents the merging of the sympathetic ganglia of cervical segments C5–C6. It is usually situated at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.

Anatomy

The middle cervical ganglion is presumed to represent the union of the two sympathetic ganglia corresponding to cervical segments C5–C6 since its gray rami communicantes usually join the cervical spinal nerves C5–C6, however, the ganglion sometimes also contributes gray rami communicantes to spinal nerves C4 and C7.[1]

Relations

The ganglion is usually situated at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra,[1] lying medial to its carotid tubercle.[2] It is situated either[1] anterior[1][2] or superior to the inferior thyroid artery. It may adjoin the inferior cervical ganglion.[1]

Branches

Variation

It is sometimes absent,[1][2] having either fused with the superior cervical ganglion or become replaced by small ganglia within the sympathetic trunk.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 600–601. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
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