Biomaterial Database

Nerves accompanying the vertebral artery and their clinical relevance. 1988

X Q Chen, and S Bo, and S Z Zhong

Department of Anatomy, First Medical University of PLA, Guangzhou, China.

In elucidating the morphologic basis of cervical spondylosis, the nerves accompanying the vertebral artery were studied under an operative microscope and by means of Karnovsky's histochemical method for acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The results show that the nerves arising from the cervical part of the sympathetic trunk and the cervical nerves anastomose with each other around the artery, and are distributed to the vertebral artery and the cervical spine. The nerves accompanying the vertebral artery show different degrees of AChE activity, and may be compressed or stimulated as a result of disease of Luschka's joint and the other degenerated structures, based on their anatomic relationship.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000110	Acetylcholinesterase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ACETYLCHOLINE to CHOLINE and acetate. In the CNS, this enzyme plays a role in the function of peripheral neuromuscular junctions. EC 3.1.1.7.	Acetylcholine Hydrolase,Acetylthiocholinesterase,Hydrolase, Acetylcholine
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings
D013564	Sympathetic Nervous System	The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system.	Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D014711	Vertebral Artery	The first branch of the SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY with distribution to muscles of the NECK; VERTEBRAE; SPINAL CORD; CEREBELLUM; and interior of the CEREBRUM.	Vertebral Arteries,Arteries, Vertebral,Artery, Vertebral