SYMPATHETIC CHAIN GANGLIA Meaning and
Definition
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Sympathetic chain ganglia, also known as paravertebral ganglia or sympathetic trunk ganglia, refer to a series of small clusters of nerve cell bodies located on either side of the spinal cord. These ganglia are a crucial component of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
Each sympathetic chain ganglion is connected to a spinal nerve via two branches, known as the white rami communicantes (singular: ramus communicans). The ganglia are arranged in a chain-like formation on either side of the spinal cord and extend from the base of the skull down to the coccyx.
The sympathetic chain ganglia play a fundamental role in the regulation of involuntary bodily functions, known as the fight-or-flight response. They receive signals from higher brain centers and respond by transmitting autonomic nerve impulses to various organs and tissues throughout the body. These impulses aid in the preparatory adjustments necessary for increasing heart rate, redistributing blood flow, dilating pupils, constricting blood vessels, and stimulating sweat glands among other physiological responses.
Additionally, sympathetic chain ganglia serve as sites for the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters, particularly norepinephrine, which acts as a chemical messenger to transmit signals between nerve cells. Dysfunction or damage to the sympathetic chain ganglia can result in numerous autonomic disorders, such as excessive sweating, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, and disturbances in gastrointestinal functions.
