| Splanchnic nerves |
The splanchnic nerves are paired visceral nerves (nerves that contribute to the innervation of the internal organs), carrying fibers of the autonomic nervous system (visceral efferent fibers) as well as sensory fibers from the organs (visceral afferent fibers). All carry sympathetic fibers except for the pelvic splanchnic nerves, which carry parasympathetic fibers.
The term splanchnic nerves can refer to:
| Nerve | Pre-/postsynaptic[2] | autonomic system ! | Origin | Targets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiopulmonary nerves | Postsynaptic | Thoracic cavity | |||
| Thoracic splanchnic nerves | generally | Presynaptic | Prevertebral ganglia | ||
| Celiac ganglia | |||||
| Superior mesenteric ganglia and Aorticorenal ganglia | |||||
| Renal plexus | |||||
| Lumbar splanchnic nerves | Inferior mesenteric ganglia, ganglia of intermesenteric and hypogastric plexuses | ||||
| Sacral splanchnic nerves | inferior hypogastric plexus and ganglia to the pelvic viscera | ||||
| Pelvic splanchnic nerves | intrinsic ganglia of descending and sigmoid colon, rectum, and inferior hypogastric plexus and ganglia to the pelvic viscera | ||||