Cervical ganglia
The cervical ganglia are paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic [nervous system]. Preganglionic nerves from the thoracic spinal cord enter into the cervical ganglions and synapse with its postganglionic fibers or nerves. The cervical ganglion has three paravertebral ganglia:
- superior cervical ganglion – adjacent to C2 & C3; postganglionic axon projects to target: via "hitchhiking" on the carotid arteries
- middle cervical ganglion – adjacent to C6; target: heart, neck
- inferior cervical ganglion. The inferior ganglion may be fused with the first thoracic ganglion to form a single structure, the stellate ganglion. – adjacent to C7; target: heart, lower neck, arm, posterior cranial arteries
Unlike all other ganglia, the medial branches of the cervical ganglia are 95% postganglionic axons.