Biomaterial Database

Nerves and nerve plexuses of the human vertebral column. 1990

G J Groen, and B Baljet, and J Drukker

Department of Functional Anatomy, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The origin, distribution, and termination pattern of nerves supplying the vertebral column and its associated structures have been studied in the human fetus by means of an acetylcholinesterase whole-mount method. The vertebral column is surrounded by ventral and dorsal nerve plexuses which are interconnected. The ventral nerve plexus consists of the nerve plexus associated with the anterior longitudinal ligament. This longitudinally oriented nerve plexus has a bilateral supply from many small branches of the sympathetic trunk, rami communicantes, and perivascular nerve plexuses of segmental arteries. In the thoracic region, the ventral nerve plexus also is connected to the nerve plexuses of costovertebral joints. The dorsal nerve plexus is made up of the nerve plexus associated with the posterior longitudinal ligament. This nerve plexus is more irregular and receives contributions only from the sinu-vertebral nerves. The sinu-vertebral nerves originate from the rami communicantes and, in the cervical region, also from the nerve plexus of the vertebral artery. Thick and thin sinu-vertebral nerves are found. Most frequently three types of thick sinu-vertebral nerves are observed, i.e., ascending, descending, or dichotomizing ones. Finally, the distribution of the branches of the ventral and dorsal nerve plexuses and of the sinu-vertebral nerves is described.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008160	Lumbosacral Plexus	The lumbar and sacral plexuses taken together. The fibers of the lumbosacral plexus originate in the lumbar and upper sacral spinal cord (L1 to S3) and innervate the lower extremities.	Inferior Cluneal Nerves,Lumbar Plexus,Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve,Sacral Plexus,Cluneal Nerve, Inferior,Cluneal Nerves, Inferior,Inferior Cluneal Nerve,Nerve, Inferior Cluneal,Nerves, Inferior Cluneal,Plexus, Lumbar,Plexus, Lumbosacral,Plexus, Sacral
D008297	Male		Males
D002572	Cervical Plexus	A network of nerve fibers originating in the upper four CERVICAL SPINAL CORD segments. The cervical plexus distributes cutaneous nerves to parts of the neck, shoulders, and back of the head. It also distributes motor fibers to muscles of the cervical SPINAL COLUMN, infrahyoid muscles, and the DIAPHRAGM.	Plexus, Cervical
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013116	Spinal Cord	A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER.	Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords
D013127	Spinal Nerves	The 31 paired peripheral nerves formed by the union of the dorsal and ventral spinal roots from each spinal cord segment. The spinal nerve plexuses and the spinal roots are also included.	Nerve, Spinal,Nerves, Spinal,Spinal Nerve
D013900	Thoracic Nerves	The twelve spinal nerves on each side of the thorax. They include eleven INTERCOSTAL NERVES and one subcostal nerve. Both sensory and motor, they supply the muscles and skin of the thoracic and abdominal walls.	Pectoral Nerves,Nerve, Pectoral,Nerve, Thoracic,Nerves, Pectoral,Nerves, Thoracic,Pectoral Nerve,Thoracic Nerve