The middle cardiac nerve (''great cardiac nerve''), the largest of the three
cardiac nerves The cardiac nerves are autonomic nerves which supply the heart
The heart is a muscular organ found in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients ...
, 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 carotid artery
In anatomy, the left and right common carotid arteries (carotids) (Entry "carotid"
in
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 ...
; it then descends on the trachea, receives a few filaments from the
recurrent nerve, and joins the right half of the deep part of the
cardiac plexus.
In the neck, it communicates with the superior cardiac and recurrent nerves.
On the left side, the middle cardiac nerve enters the chest between the left
carotid and the left
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 joins the left half of the deep part of the
cardiac plexus.
See also
*
Middle cervical ganglion
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Middle Cardiac Nerve
Sympathetic nervous system