The inferior cardiac nerve arises from either the inferior cervical or the first
thoracic ganglion.
It descends behind the
subclavian artery
In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are paired major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle. They receive blood from the aortic arch. The left subclavian artery supplies blood to the left arm and the right subclavian artery supplie ...
and along the front of the
trachea
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a cartilaginous tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of the lungs, allowing the passage of air, and so is present in almost all air-breathing animals with lungs. The trachea extends from th ...
, to join the deep part of the
cardiac plexus.
It communicates freely behind the subclavian artery with the
recurrent nerve and the
middle cardiac nerve
The middle cardiac nerve (''great cardiac nerve''), the largest of the three cardiac nerves, arises from the middle cervical ganglion, or from the trunk between the middle and inferior ganglia.
On the right side it descends behind the common ca ...
.
See also
*
inferior cervical ganglion
The inferior cervical ganglion is situated between the base of the transverse process of the last cervical vertebra and the neck of the first rib, on the medial side of the costocervical artery.
Its form is irregular; it is larger in size than t ...
*
vagus nerve
The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, cranial nerve X, or simply CN X, is a cranial nerve that interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It comprises two nerves—the left and rig ...
External links
{{neuroanatomy-stub
Sympathetic nervous system