Sympathetic Pathway to the Neck
Head
Neck
Body Wall
Thorax
Abdomen
Pelvis


Origin:
   cranial thoracic segments (T3-T5)

Preganglionic Pathway:
   ventral root, spinal nerve, ramus communicans,
   sympathetic trunk,

Ganglion:
   cervicothoracic ganglion

Postganglionic Pathway:
   vertebral nerve
   rami communicantes to cervical spinal nerves
   dorsal or ventral primary branches

Target Organs:
      arrector pili smooth muscle (piloerection);
      sweat glands;
      blood vessel smooth muscle




pre-ganglionic path post-ganglionic path


Cadaver Image
(click to view enlarged)

The left vertebral nerve can be seen leaving the cervicothoracic ganglion and joining the vertebral artery in the dog. (The nerve runs through transverse canals in cervical vertebrae and sends branches to rami comunicantes of cervical spinal.)




Go Top