| thoracic nerves | The twelve pairs of spinal nerves that arise from the thoracic segments of the spinal cord, each pair leaving the vertebral column below the correspondingly numbered vertebra. They innervate the body wall of the thorax and abdomen. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| thoracic spinal nerves | Twelve nerves on each side, mixed motor and sensory, supplying the muscles and skin of the thoracic and abdominal walls. Synonym: nervi thoracici. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracic splanchnic nerves | Splanchnic nerves arising from the thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunks; the upper thoracic splanchnic nerves (from T1 to T4 or 5) pass to viscera above the diaphragm (mainly heart and lungs) and so are cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves; the lower thoracic splanchnic nerves form the greater, lesser, and lowest splanchnic nerves and supply viscera below the level of the diaphragm, and so are abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracoabdominal nerves | The ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T7-T11 (seventh to eleventh intercostal nerves), which supply the abdominal as well as the thoracic wall; innervate intercostal, subcostal, serratus posterior inferior, transversus abdominis, external and internal oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles, and provide sensory branches to the periphery of the diaphragm, and parietal pleura and peritoneum. Synonym: rami cutanei anteriores pectoralis et abdominalis nervorum intercostalium, ramus cutaneus anterior (pectoralis et abdominalis) nervorum thoracicorum, anterior cutaneous nerves of abdomen, pectoral and abdominal anterior cutaneous branch of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external carotid nerves | A number of sympathetic nerve fibres conveyed via the cephalic arterial ramus of the sympathetic trunk which extends from the superior cervical ganglion to the external carotid artery, forming the external carotid plexus. Synonym: nervi carotici externi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| upper thoracic splanchnic nerves | Part of the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves from the second to fifth segments of the thoracic sympathetic trunk that pass medially and anteriorly to enter the cardiac plexus; they convey postsynaptic sympathetic fibres to, and visceral afferent (pain) fibres from, the heart. Synonym: nervi cardiaci thoracici, upper thoracic splanchnic nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| laryngeal nerves | Branches of the vagus nerve (the tenth cranial nerve). The superior laryngeal nerves originate near the nodose ganglion and separate into external branches, which supply motor fibres to the cricothyroid muscles, and internal branches, which carry sensory fibres. The recurrent (inferior) laryngeal nerve originates more caudally and carries efferents to all muscles of the larynx except the cricothyroid. The laryngeal nerves and their various branches also carry sensory and autonomic fibres to the laryngeal, pharyngeal, tracheal, and cardiac regions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves | Branches arising in approximately the anterior axillary line at the level of the second through sixth intercostal spaces. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales nervorum intercostalium, lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral cutaneous branches of ventral primary ramus of thoracic spinal nerves | Branches arising in approximately the anterior axillary line at the level of the second through sixth intercostal spaces. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales nervorum intercostalium, lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves | Branches arising from the lateral cutaneous branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves (intercostal nerves) T-3 to T-6 which run anteriorly to supply the lateral aspect of the breast. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum thoracicorum, rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum intercostalium, lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of thoracic spinal nerves | Branches arising from the lateral cutaneous branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves (intercostal nerves) T-3 to T-6 which run anteriorly to supply the lateral aspect of the breast. Synonym: rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum thoracicorum, rami mammarii laterales rami cutanei lateralis nervorum intercostalium, lateral mammary branches of lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lesser palatine nerves | Usually two, these nerves emerge through the lesser palatine foramina and supply the mucosa and glands of the soft palate and uvula; they are branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion and contain postsynaptic parasympathetic and sensory fibres of the maxillary nerve. Synonym: nervi palatini minores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| loops of spinal nerves | Loops of the spinal nerves, connecting ventral primary rami of the spinal nerves. Synonym: ansae nervorum spinalium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar nerves | Five bilaterally-paired nerves emerging from the lumbar portion of the spinal cord; the first four nerves enter into the formation of the lumbar plexus, the fourth and fifth into that of the sacral plexus. Synonym: nervi lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar splanchnic nerves | Branches from the lumbar sympathetic trunks that pass anteriorly to convey presynaptic sympathetic fibres to, and visceral afferents from, the coeliac, intermesenteric, aortic, and superior hypogastric plexuses. Synonym: nervi splanchnici lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |