Gray ramus communicans

Jump to: navigation, search

Gray ramus communicans
File:Gray799.svg
Scheme showing structure of a typical spinal nerve. 1. Somatic efferent. 2. Somatic afferent. 3,4,5. Sympathetic efferent. 6,7. Sympathetic afferent.

Diagram of the course and branches of a typical intercostal nerve. (Rami communicantes labeled at center.)
Latin	ramus communicans griseus nervi spinalis
Gray's	subject #208 920
Dorlands/Elsevier	r_02/12689524

Each spinal nerve receives a branch, gray ramus communicans, from the adjacent ganglion of the sympathetic trunk.

They contain unmyelinated postganglionic sympathetic fibers.

Additional images

Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus.
Thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunk.

External links

gray+rami+communicantes at eMedicine Dictionary
Atlas of anatomy at UMich n3a6p1 - "Autonomic Connections of the Spinal Cord"
Overview and diagram

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e Nerves - autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion)
Head/cranial	Ciliary ganglion: roots (Sensory, Parasympathetic, Sympathetic) - Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal - nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine (inferior posterior nasal branches) - lesser palatine - nasopalatine (medial superior posterior nasal branches) - pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion
Neck/cervical	paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia (Superior, Middle, Inferior) - Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus - Internal carotid
Chest/thorax	paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus - Esophageal plexus - Pulmonary plexus - Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary - thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior - Middle - Inferior
Abdomen/Lumbar	paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia (Aorticorenal) - Superior mesenteric ganglion - Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus - (Hepatic, Splenic, Pancreatic) - aorticorenal (Abdominal aortic plexus, Renal/Suprarenal) - Superior mesenteric (Gastric) - Inferior mesenteric (Spermatic, Ovarian) - Superior hypogastric (hypogastric nerve, Superior rectal) - Inferior hypogastric (Vesical, Prostatic/Cavernous nerves of penis, Uterovaginal, Middle rectal) splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves enteric nervous system: Meissner's plexus • Auerbach's plexus
Pelvis/sacral	paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia - Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves - Sacral splanchnic nerves
All	Rami communicans (White, Gray) - Preganglionic fibers - Postganglionic fibers

v • d • e

Anatomy of torso (primarily): the spinal cord

Spinal nerve

Dorsal (Root, Ganglion, Ramus) • Ventral (Root, Ramus) • Sympathetic trunk • rami communicantes (Gray, White)

Gray matter/Rexed laminae

Posterior horn (Posteromarginal nucleus, Column of Clarke, Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando, Nucleus proprius)

Lateral horn/Anterior horn (Intermediolateral nucleus)

Central canal/Substantia gelatinosa centralis - Gray commissure

White matter

somatic/ascending (blue)	Posterior/PCML: touch: Gracilis • Cuneatus Lateral: proprioception: Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) • pain/temp: Spinothalamic (Lateral, Anterior) • Posterolateral (Lissauer) • Spinotectal
motor/descending (red)	Lateral: Corticospinal (Lateral) • Ep (Rubrospinal, Olivospinal) Anterior: Corticospinal (Anterior) • Ep (Vestibulospinal, Reticulospinal, Tectospinal)