branches

Last reviewed 01/2018

The inferior cervical or stellate sympathetic ganglia may have the following branches bilaterally:

  • somatic; pass grey rami communicantes to :
    • seventh and eighth cervical spinal nerves in case of inferior cervical ganglion
    • seventh and eight cervical and first, and possibly second, thoracic spinal nerves in case of stellate ganglion
  • visceral; most inferior cardiac nerves bilaterally to deep cardiac plexuses
  • vascular branches: either may pass along the outside of the vertebral arteries to supply its branches; stimulation causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels within their territories