efferent structures innervated by spinal level

Last reviewed 01/2018

The preganglionic sympathetic fibres pass to a given set of structures according to the spinal level from which they emerge:

  • eye: T1 to T2
  • head: T1 to T3
  • heart: T1 to T5
  • upper limb: T1 to T6
  • lungs: T2 to T6
  • oesophagus: T4 to T6
  • stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas: T7 to T9
  • small intestine: T9 to T10
  • appendix, colon, gonads: T10 to T11
  • suprarenal glands: T10 to L1
  • lower limb: T11 to L2
  • rectum, bladder, uterus: T12 to L2
  • kidney: T12 to L1
  • ureter: L1 to L2