white rami communicantes

Introduction

Short nerves arising from the initial portion of the ventral ramus of the thoracic spinal nerves & upper lumbar spinal nerves through which all presynaptic sympathetic nerve fibers (mostly myelinated) must pass to reach the sympathetic trunk; also are visceral afferent (sensory) fibers conveyed to the sympathetic trunks in splanchnic nerves.

There are 14 pairs of white rami communicantes, which connect the first thoracic spinal nerves (T1) through the second lumbar spinal nerves (L2) to the chain (paravertebral gangial or sympathetic ganglia).

More general terms

• rami communicantes

Additional terms

• gray rami communicantes
• sympathetic ganglion

Component of

• autonomic nervous system