Celiac ganglion
The ganglion celiacum ("abdominal cavity ganglion ", from Greek koilia for "cave") is a sympathetic ganglion in the upper (in animals: anterior) abdominal cavity. It is located at the exit of the celiac trunk from the aorta , in humans at the same level to the right and left of the aorta. The celiac ganglion is the largest of the prevertebral ganglia ( ganglia praevertebralia ).
Origin of nerve fibers
The cell bodies of the preganglionic sympathetic neurons are mainly located in the chest section of the spinal cord . From here, the pull axons (nerve processes) to the sympathetic trunk , but not in the ganglia ( Ganglia paravertebralia switched). The neurons gather to form the major splanchnic nerve , which runs parallel to the border cord into the abdominal cavity. Nervi splanchnici minores (lumbales) also run from the lumbar marrow to the celiac ganglion. Most of these nerve fibers are then switched to the second, postganglionic neuron.
Solar plexus
The secondary sympathetic neurons, together with the parasympathetic components, form a network around the celiac trunk, the celiac plexus . Due to numerous connections with the network of the closely adjacent ganglion mesentericum superius (in animals: ganglion mesentericum craniale ) both are also combined as a solar plexus ( plexus solaris ). The parasympathetic fibers of the vagus nerve also radiate into the solar plexus .
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers run from the solar plexus, accompanied by the blood vessels, to the organs of the upper abdomen (in animals: that of the anterior abdominal cavity). There are mostly other organ plexuses ( plexus gastricus , hepaticus , splenic bone ...) in which the remaining part of the primary neurons are switched.
function
The fibers from the celiac ganglion are both afferent and efferent . The afferent fibers carry viscerosensitive information from the abdominal organs. In the ganglion there are connections to the efferent neurons. The ganglion already acts as the first central processing station outside the CNS , in that it amplifies or inhibits afferent impulses and triggers the corresponding efferent impulses. In addition, impulses come in from different parts of the organ, so that coordination of the enteric nervous system - a part of the vegetative nervous system - and thus the intestinal motor skills ( peristalsis ) is made possible.
The sympathetic nerve fibers act on the blood vessels and thus regulate the blood flow to the organs. They also have an inhibitory effect on the function of the gastrointestinal tract .