abdominal aortic plexus

(noun)

This is formed by branches derived, on either side, from the celiac plexus and ganglia, and receives filaments from some of the lumbar ganglia. It is situated upon the sides and front of the aorta, between the origins of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.

Related Terms

Examples of abdominal aortic plexus in the following topics:

  • Autonomic Plexuses

    • The autonomic plexuses include the cardiac plexus, the pulmonary plexus, the esophageal plexus, and abdominal aortic plexus, and the superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses.
    • The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus(es).
    • The abdominal aortic plexus is formed by branches derived, on either side, from the celiac plexus and ganglia, and receives filaments from some of the lumbar ganglia.
    • The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus of nerves situated on the vertebral bodies below the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta.
    • The inferior hypogastric plexus (pelvic plexus in some texts) is a plexus of nerves that supplies the viscera of the pelvic cavity.

  • Abdominal Aorta

    • The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity and supplies blood to most of the abdominal organs.
    • The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity.
    • It begins at the level of the diaphragm, crossing it via the aortic hiatus.
    • The abdominal aorta runs parallel to the inferior vena cava, located just to the right of the abdominal aorta.
    • The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity through numerous branches that become smaller in diameter as it descends.

  • Lumbar Plexus

    • The lumbar plexus is a nerve plexus in the lumbar region of the body that forms part of the lumbosacral plexus.
    • This plexus lies within the psoas major muscle.
    • Nerves of the lumbar plexus serve the skin and the muscles of the lower abdominal wall, the thigh, and external genitals.
    • Lateral to this muscle, it pierces the transversus abdominis to run above the iliac crest between that muscle and the abdominal internal oblique.
    • An image of the lumbar plexus with its nerves highlighted in yellow.

  • Intercostal Nerves

    • The intercostal nerves are distributed chiefly to the thoracic pleura and abdominal peritoneum.
    • They differ from the anterior divisions of the other spinal nerves in that each pursues an independent course without plexus formation.
    • The larger branch leaves the thorax in front of the neck of the first rib and enters the brachial plexus.
    • The branch from the second nerve unites with the anterior supraclavicular nerves of the cervical plexus.
    • The twelfth (subcostal) thoracic nerve is distributed to the abdominal wall and groin.

  • Thoracic Aorta

    • The thoracic aorta forms part of the descending aorta and is continuous with the aortic arch at its origin before becoming the abdominal aorta.
    • Contained within the posterior mediastinal cavity, it begins at the lower border of the fourth thoracic vertebra where it is continuous with the aortic arch, and ends in front of the lower border of the twelfth thoracic vertebra at the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm.

  • Marfan Syndrome

    • The most serious symptom of Marfan's is a dilated aorta or an aortic aneurysm.
    • Sometimes, no heart problems are apparent until the weakening of the connective tissue in the ascending aorta causes an aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection; a surgical emergency.
    • An aortic dissection is most often fatal and presents with pain radiating down the back, giving a tearing sensation.
    • Symptoms that can occur are lower back pain, leg pain, abdominal pain, other neurological symptoms in the lower extremities, or headaches.
    • The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of aortic dilation and damage to heart valves by eliminating arrhythmias, minimizing the heart rate, and minimizing blood pressure.

  • Great Vessels of the Heart

    • The inferior vena cava begins posterior to the abdominal cavity and travels to the heart next to the abdominal aorta.
    • Blood is pumped from the left ventricle through the aortic valve into the aorta.
    • When the left ventricle contracts to force blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, the aorta expands.
    • It breaks off into the aortic sinuses, some of which form the coronary arteries.
    • It is subdivided into the thoracic and abdominal aorta.

  • Gross Anatomy of the Stomach

    • It is on the left side of the abdominal cavity, the fundus of the stomach lying against the diaphragm.
    • The arteries break up at the base of the gastric tubules into a plexus of fine capillaries, which run upward between the tubules.
    • They anatomize with each other and end in a plexus of larger capillaries, which surround the mouths of the tubes and also form hexagonal meshes around the ducts.
    • A great number of branches from the celiac plexus of the sympathetic are also distributed to it.

  • Supply of Blood and Nerves to the Kidneys

    • The renal arteries branch off of the abdominal aorta and supply the kidneys with blood.
    • The renal plexus are the source of nervous tissue innervation within the kidney, which surround and primarily alter the size of the arterioles within the renal cortex.
    • The kidneys receive blood from the renal arteries which branch into segmental arteries and into interlobar arteries that penetrate the renal capsule and extend through the renal columns between the renal pyramids, left and right, which branch directly from the abdominal aorta.

  • Yolk Sac Development

    • After circulating through a wide-meshed capillary plexus, it is returned by the vitelline veins to the tubular heart of the embryo.
    • It may be attached by a fibrous cord to the abdominal wall at the umbilicus.