Celiac Plexus Anatomy and Function

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the celiac plexus?

Regulation of blood flow to the lower limbs. (correct)
Transmission of sensory information from the organs.
Autonomic innervation of abdominal organs.
Relaying sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve signals.

The celiac plexus contains direct neural connections between nerve fibers, unlike ganglia.

False (B)

What is the anatomical significance of the celiac trunk in relation to the celiac plexus?

The celiac plexus is situated around the aorta at the origin of the celiac trunk, which is the first anterior branch of the aorta after it passes through the diaphragm.

Preganglionic sympathetic neurons exit the spinal cord and form ______ nerves, which synapse in the celiac ganglion.

splanchnic Signup and view all the answers

Match the nerve type to its origin:

Sympathetic Nerves = Thoracic Spinal Levels Parasympathetic Nerves = Vagus Nerve (Cranial Nerve X) Visceral Afferent Nerves = Sympathetic and Vagus Nerves Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following structures is NOT directly innervated by the celiac plexus?

Descending Colon (C) Signup and view all the answers

A direct blow to the abdomen damages the nerves of the solar plexus (celiac plexus).

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what clinical scenario is blocking the nerves in the celiac plexus considered, and why?

It is considered for patients with terminal cancer in abdominal organs when pain medication is ineffective in managing their pain. Signup and view all the answers

The superior mesenteric plexus is a continuation of the celiac plexus, following the superior mesenteric ______.

artery Signup and view all the answers

Why is the celiac plexus also referred to as the solar plexus?

Due to the radiating fibers around the plexus. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Celiac Plexus

A complex network of nerves in the abdomen, also known as the solar plexus, that plays a crucial role in autonomic innervation of abdominal organs.

Celiac Trunk

The first anterior branch of the aorta after it passes through the diaphragm, supplying blood to the foregut structures.

Visceral Afferent Nerves

Nerves that transmit sensory information from the organs to the central nervous system.

Sympathetic Nerves (Origin)

Nerves in the autonomic nervous system that originate from the spinal cord, mainly from thoracic spinal levels.