Quick Facts
Sympathetic Contribution: Preganglionic efferent fibers from T5-T9 spinal cord levels travel via the greater splanchnic nerve to the celiac ganglion, which sends postganglionic axons to the splenic plexus.
Parasympathetic Contribution: Preganglionic efferent fibers from the vagus nerve travel to the celiac ganglion and then to the splenic plexus.
Course: Found on the splenic artery.
Sympathetic Supply: The sympathetic fibers of the splenic plexus innervate the vascular smooth muscle and tissues of the upper and greater curvature of the stomach, the pancreas, and the spleen.
Parasympathetic Supply: The parasympathetic fibers of the splenic plexus innervate glandular tissue of the upper and greater curvature of the stomach, the pancreas, and the spleen.
Contributing Nerves
The splenic plexus is continuous with the celiac plexus from which it receives sympathetic and parasympathetic efferent fibers and to which it sends visceral sensory afferent fibers.
Course
The splenic plexus lies on the splenic artery. Its fibers travel along the splenic artery to distribute to corresponding vascular territories, including the upper and greater curvature of the stomach, the pancreas, and the spleen.
Branches
The splenic plexus does not give rise to named branches. It is connected to the celiac plexus.
Supplied Structures
The splenic plexus is a mixed plexus conveying both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to the territories of the splenic artery. It also conveys visceral sensory nerves back to the CNS.
Sympathetic efferent fibers of the splenic plexus innervate vascular smooth muscle and tissues of the upper and greater curvature of the stomach, the pancreas, and the spleen. Parasympathetic efferent fibers of the splenic plexus innervate glandular tissue of the aforementioned organs.
Visceral sensory fibers carrying afferents from the upper and greater curvature of the stomach, the pancreas, and the spleen run through the splenic plexus.
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Plexus
Visceral plexuses are a network of nerve fiber and ganglia surrounding organs of the abdomen and pelvis region that convey sympathetic, parasympathetic, and visceral afferent input.
