2025, Volume 18, Issue 4, pp 351 – 356

The dissection-based identification of the preaortic sympathetic plexus formation, anatomical relations, and clinical applications

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding author Georgian-Theodor Badea, Discipline of Anatomy, Department 2 – Morphological Sciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Doctoral School, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. E-mail: theodor.badea@umfcd.ro

Abstract

The abdominal sympathetic nervous system provides sympathetic innervation to the abdominal organs and gonads. This system is part of an extensive neural network that extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis. The preaortic (or prevertebral) plexus is a key component of the abdominal sympathetic system and is represented by a variable nervous network located anterior to the abdominal aorta. The aim of our study was to identify all these sympathetic structures and describe the formation and relationships of the preaortic plexus. We examined five cadavers (aged 66–71) with no medical or surgical history, preserved in 9% formalin at the Anatomy Department from Carol Davila University. Regional dissections were performed in successive planes, highlighting the major abdominal plexuses, the lumbar splanchnic nerves, and the associated network of neural connections that contribute to the preaortic plexus. The plexus is formed by efferent fibers from the celiac and aortico-renal ganglia, as well as from the three lumbar splanchnic nerves. The lumbar splanchnic nerves originate in the paravertebral sympathetic chains. We identified all these sympathetic structures and described the formation and anatomical relationships of the plexus. The nerve fibers of various origins form a longitudinally oriented network located anterolateral to the abdominal aorta. The lower part of this network continues into the superior hypogastric plexus. This neural network is delicate, complex, and variable, making it challenging to identify anatomically and surgically. Situated deeply in the retroperitoneal space, it is prone to accidental injuries during surgery in this compartment.

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About this article

PMC ID: 12094316
PubMed ID: 
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2025-0069

Article Publishing Date (print): 4 2025
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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