The celiac ganglia or coeliac ganglia are two large irregularly shaped masses of
nerve
A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers (called axons). Nerves have historically been considered the basic units of the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the Electrochemistry, electrochemical nerv ...
tissue in the upper
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...
. Part of the
sympathetic subdivision of the
autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system (ANS), sometimes called the visceral nervous system and formerly the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the nervous system that operates viscera, internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervo ...
(ANS), the two celiac ganglia are the largest
ganglia
A ganglion (: ganglia) is a group of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system. In the somatic nervous system, this includes dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia among a few others. In the autonomic nervous system, there a ...
in the ANS, and they innervate most of the
digestive tract
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the Digestion, digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascula ...
.
They have the appearance of
lymph glands
A lymph node, or lymph gland, is a kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system, or lymphoid system, is an organ system in vertebrates that is part of the immune system and complementary to the circulatory system. It con ...
and are placed on either side of the midline in front of the
crura of the
diaphragm, close to the
suprarenal glands (also called adrenal glands). The ganglion on the right side is placed behind the
inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the ...
.
They are sometimes referred to as the semilunar ganglia or the solar ganglia.
Neurotransmission
The celiac ganglion is part of the sympathetic prevertebral chain possessing a great variety of specific receptors and neurotransmitters such as
catecholamine
A catecholamine (; abbreviated CA), most typically a 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine, is a monoamine neurotransmitter, an organic compound that has a catechol (benzene with two hydroxyl side groups next to each other) and a side-chain amine.
Cate ...
s,
neuropeptide
Neuropeptides are chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids that are synthesized and released by neurons. Neuropeptides typically bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neural activity and other tissues like the ...
s, and nitric oxide and constitutes a modulation center in the pathway of the afferent and efferent fibers between the central nervous system and the ovary.
The main preganglion neurotransmitter of the celiac ganglion is
acetylcholine
Acetylcholine (ACh) is an organic compound that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Par ...
, yet the celiac ganglion-mesenteric complex also contain α and β adrenergic receptors and is innervated by fibers of adrenergic nature that come from other
preaortic ganglia.
Path
The upper part of each ganglion is joined by the
greater splanchnic nerve, while the lower part, which is segmented off and named the
aorticorenal ganglion, receives the
lesser splanchnic nerve and gives off the greater part of the
renal plexus
The renal plexus is a complex network of nerves formed by filaments from the celiac ganglia and plexus, aorticorenal ganglia, lower thoracic splanchnic nerves and first lumbar splanchnic nerve and aortic plexus.
The nerves from these sourc ...
.
Innervation
These ganglia contain neurons whose postganglionic axons innervate the distal esophagus, stomach, proximal duodenum, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, and the small intestine. They directly innervate the ovarian theca and secondary interstitial cells and exert an indirect action on the luteal cells.
Links to ovary
Modifications in the adrenergic activity of the celiac ganglion results in an altered capacity of the ovary of pregnant rats to produce progesterone, suggesting that the celiac ganglion-superior ovarian nerve-ovarian axis provides a direct link between the autonomic nervous system and the physiology of pregnancy.
It has also been shown that modifications in the cholinergic input at the celiac ganglion also led, via the superior ovarian nerve, to modifications in ovarian
steroidogenesis
A steroid is an organic compound with four fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration.
Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter memb ...
.
Most of the fibers of the superior ovarian nerve come from the postganglionic sympathetic neurons of the celiac ganglion.
Additional images
Image:Gray839.png, Diagram of efferent sympathetic nervous system.
Image:Gray847.png, Abdominal portion of the sympathetic trunk, with the celiac and hypogastric plexuses.
Image:Gray849.png, Lower half of right sympathetic cord.
See also
*
Celiac plexus
The celiac plexus, also known as the solar plexus because of its radiating nerve fibers, is a nerve plexus, complex network of nerves located in the abdomen, near where the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries branch fro ...
References
External links
* - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Celiac Plexus"
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{{Authority control
Autonomic ganglia