branches
Last reviewed 01/2018
On each side of the neck, the superior cervical ganglion gives off the following postganglionic branches:
- somatic: via grey rami communicantes, to the first four cervical nerves
- visceral; superior cardiac nerves to the:
- superficial cardiac plexus from the left superior ganglion
- deep cardiac plexus from the right superior ganglion
- vascular branches; pass along the outside of the respective major artery and supply all of their branches; contain both somatic and visceral fibres:
- internal carotid nerve; also sends fibres to:
- pterygopalatine ganglion
- dilator pupillae of the iris
- external carotid nerve; also sends fibres to:
- pharyngeal plexus
- submandibular ganglion
- otic ganglion