superior cervical ganglion

su·pe·ri·or cer·vi·cal gan·gli·on

[TA]

the most superior and the largest of the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, lying near the base of the skull between the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein. All postsynaptic sympathetic fibers distributed to the head and upper neck are derived from the cell bodies that constitute this ganglion.

Synonym(s): ganglion cervicale superius [TA]

su·pe·ri·or cer·vi·cal gan·gli·on

(sŭ-pēr'ē-ŏr sĕr'vi-kăl gang'glē-ŏn) [TA]

The most superior and the largest of the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, lying near the base of the skull between the internal carotid artery and the internal jugular vein. All postsynaptic sympathetic fibers distributed to the head and upper neck are derived from the cell bodies that constitute this ganglion.

superior cervical ganglion

The uppermost cervical ganglion and the largest paravertebral autonomic ganglion. It is adjacent to vertebra C2 or C3. It sends postganglionic sympathetic axons into cranial nerves CN VIII–XII, cervical nerves C1–C4, and the pharyngeal, carotid, and cardiac nerves.

See also: ganglion