Quick Facts
Sympathetic Contribution: Preganglionic efferent fibers from T7-T9 spinal cord levels travel via the greater splanchnic nerve to the celiac ganglion. Postganglionic efferent fibers originating here run to the suprarenal plexus.
Parasympathetic Contribution: Preganglionic efferent fibers from the vagus nerve travel via the vagal trunks to the celiac ganglion and then to the suprarenal plexus.
Course: The suprarenal plexus is a bilateral plexus found lateral to the celiac plexus and just medial to the suprarenal glands.
Sympathetic Supply: The sympathetic fibers of the suprarenal plexus innervate the vascular smooth muscle and tissues of the suprarenal glands.
Parasympathetic Supply: The parasympathetic fibers of the suprarenal plexus innervate glandular tissue of the suprarenal glands.
Contributing Nerves
The suprarenal plexus is continuous with the celiac plexus. It also receives fibers from the phrenic nerve and the greater splanchnic nerve.
Course
The suprarenal plexus lies medial to the suprarenal gland and lateral to the celiac plexus.
Branches
The suprarenal plexus does not give rise to named branches. It is connected to the celiac plexus and receives fibers from the phrenic nerve and greater splanchnic nerve.
Supplied Structures
The suprarenal plexus is a mixed plexus conveying both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to the suprarenal gland and its vascular tissues. It also conveys visceral sensory nerves back to the CNS.
Sympathetic efferent fibers of the suprarenal plexus innervate vascular smooth muscle and tissues of the suprarenal glands.
Parasympathetic efferent fibers of the suprarenal plexus innervate the suprarenal glands.
Visceral sensory fibers carrying afferents from the suprarenal gland run through the suprarenal plexus (Parker et al., 1993).
References
Parker, T. L., Kesse, W. K., Mohamed, A. A. and Afework, M. (1993) 'The innervation of the mammalian adrenal gland', Journal of anatomy, 183 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2), pp. 265-276.
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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.
