stellate ganglion

The stellate ganglion, or cervicothoracic ganglion, is formed by the inferior cervical and first thoracic ganglia and is located just anterior to the head of the first rib. It receives input from the paravertebral sympathetic chain and provides sympathetic efferents to the upper limbs, head, neck, and heart.

The stellate ganglion is a long, flat structure approximately 1 cm in length. It lies just anterior to the head of the first rib, directly adjacent to the vertebral artery and lateral to the longus colli muscle. Occasionally it is long enough to extend superiorly to be anterior to the transverse process of the C7 vertebra. It is also closely related to the apex of the lung and the phrenic nerve.

See also

Anatomy: Spine
Siehe auch: