Anatomy, Back, Splanchnic Nerve

The splanchnic nerves are paired autonomic nerves containing visceral motor and sensory afferent fibers (see . Autonomic Nervous System). Five sets of splanchnic nerves travel on each side of the vertebral column: the cardiopulmonary, thoracic splanchnic, lumbar splanchnic, sacral splanchnic, and pelvic splanchnic nerves. Preganglionic spinal cord cell bodies give rise to the splanchnic nerves, though the cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves arise from postganglionic cell bodies in the cervical and upper thoracic spinal trunk. All splanchnic nerves have sympathetic activity except for the pelvic splanchnic nerves, which carry parasympathetic fibers.  Splanchnicectomy or splanchnic denervation is a procedure that may be performed to alleviate intractable visceral pain. Splanchnic nerve involvement in visceral tumors can impact surgical planning and outcomes. Understanding the anatomy, physiology, and clinical variations of the splanchnic nerves is essential to diagnosing and managing autonomically driven conditions in the thoracic and abdominopelvic regions.