Internal carotid plexus

Internal carotid plexus
Sympathetic connections of the ciliary and superior cervical ganglia. (Carotid plexus visible center top.)
Diagram of the cervical sympathetic. (Carotid plexus visible center top.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Plexus caroticus internus
TA	A14.3.03.004
FMA	67533
*Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy* [edit on Wikidata]

Scheme showing sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation of the pupil and sites of lesion in a Horner's syndrome.

The internal carotid plexus (internal carotid plexus) is situated on the lateral side of the internal carotid artery, and in the plexus there occasionally exists a small gangliform swelling, the carotid ganglion, on the under surface of the artery.

Postganglionic sympathetic fibres ascend from the superior cervical ganglion, along the walls of the internal carotid artery, to enter the internal carotid plexus. These fibres then distribute to deep structures, which include the Superior Tarsal Muscle and pupillary dilator muscles.^[1] Some of the fibres from the internal carotid plexus converge to form the deep petrosal nerve.^[2]

The internal carotid plexus communicates with the trigeminal ganglion, the abducent nerve, and the pterygopalatine ganglion (also named sphenopalatine); it distributes filaments to the wall of the internal carotid artery, and also communicates with the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Additional images

Nerves of the orbit, and the ciliary ganglion. Side view.
Pathways in the Ciliary Ganglion.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

Notes

↑ Hal Blumenfeld, "Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases", Sinauer Associates, 2002, p543
↑ Richard L. Drake, Wayne Vogel & Adam W M Mitchell, "Gray's Anatomy for Students", Elsevier inc., 2005

Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system

Head

Sympathetic	Ciliary ganglion: roots Sensory Sympathetic Short ciliary

Parasympathetic	Ciliary ganglion: roots Sensory Parasympathetic Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine inferior posterior nasal branches lesser palatine nasopalatine medial superior posterior nasal branches pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion

Neck

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia Superior Middle Inferior Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus Internal carotid

Chest

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus Esophageal plexus Pulmonary plexus Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior Middle Inferior

Abdomen

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia Aorticorenal Superior mesenteric ganglion Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus Hepatic Splenic Pancreatic aorticorenal Abdominal aortic plexus Renal/Suprarenal Superior mesenteric Gastric Inferior mesenteric Spermatic Ovarian Superior hypogastric hypogastric nerve Superior rectal Inferior hypogastric Vesical Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis Uterovaginal Middle rectal splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves

Enteric	Submucous plexus Myenteric plexus

Pelvis

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Sacral splanchnic nerves

Parasympathetic	splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves

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