[Morphologic and histochemical organization of the pericardial nervous apparatus of vertebrates and humans].

It has been stated that the neuronal apparatus of the vertebrate and human pericardium is represented by plexus of myelinated and amyelinated fibers, nerve cells and receptors. The plexus contain both cholinergic and adrenergic neuronal structures. Pericardial neuronal apparatus in the vertebrates and in man reaches its highes development. In the course of human ontogenesis, free diffuse receptors reveal themselves beginning from the 4th month, and more complex incapsulated ones--from the 5th month of the intrauterine development. Neuronal plexus of the fetal pericardium is formed by the 28th week. Cholinergic neuronal elements in the pericardium begin to reveal themselves at the 13th week, and adrenergic ones--at the 14th week of the intrauterine development. The main source of the afferent and vegetative innervation in the pericardium are inferior and superior thoracic cerebrospinal nodes, vagus nerves and branches from the nodes of the sympathetic trunk. Neuronal fibers composing diaphragmal and parasternal nerves and those of celiac plexus reach the pericardium, too.