Vagosympathetic Nerve Trunk

Full Title: Vagosympathetic Nerve Trunk

Author: Laura Lane

Date of Publication: June 30, 2015

PDF: http://petmassage.com/wp-content/uploads/Vagosympathetic-Nerve-Trunk-by-Laura-Lane-2015-06-30.pdf

Research Paper Text:

Location

The deep fascia of the neck (pretracheal fascia) runs ventral to the trachea and runs laterally with an extension of the deep  fascia that forms the carotid sheath that is a special loose condensation of fascia in which the common carotid artery, internal  jugular vein, tracheal duct and the vagosympathetic trunk are located^​1.​​

Function

The sympathetic trunk is a fundamental part of the sympathetic nervous system (​ stimulates the body’s flight or fight  response).  The trunk, originating via the Vagus Nerve runs from T1­L2 and affects various parts of the body from pupil  dilation and sweat glands to the rapid functions of the lungs, heart, stomach and bladder.  A feline diagram below best  depicts the areas affected from nerves that radiate from the trunk.

Pathology

As the vagosympathetic trunk affects a multitude of organs, there a many diseases associated within these pathways from  seizures (vagus nerve) to hyperthyroidism and atrial arrhythmias to name a few.

References

1. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog, Evans de Lahunta, Fourth Edition, pg. 214
2. Images 1­4 Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog, Evans de Lahunta, Fourth Edition pgs 727/725/579/723
3. Image 5 ­ Calnet 2001 website http://137.222.110.150/Calnet/ANS/page2.htm