| 释义 |
carotid plexus
Thesaurus| Noun | 1. | carotid plexus - a plexus of nerves surrounding the internal carotid arteryplexus caroticusnerve plexus - a network of intersecting nerves |
EncyclopediaSeeplexuscarotid plexus
carotid plexus1. Any of the autonomic nerve plexuses that coat the carotid arteries; all carotid plexuses receive postganglionic sympathetic axons from the superior cervical ganglia. The external carotid plexus sends axons to the smooth muscles of the face and upper neck, along branches of the external carotid artery. The internal carotid plexus sends axons to the trigeminal and ciliary ganglia, and the oculomotor, trochlear, ophthalmic, abducens, and glossopharyngeal nerves. Some axons leave the internal carotid artery at the foramen lacerum, inside the skull, to form the deep petrosal nerve, which runs to the pterygoid ganglion. Other carotid plexus axons continue along the anterior and middle cerebral arteries to provide sympathetic innervation of arteries of the brain. 2. A venous plexus that exits the skull through the carotid canal and interconnects the cavernous sinus inside the skull with the internal jugular vein outside the skull.See also: plexuscarotid plexus
Related to carotid plexus: lesser petrosal nerve, external carotid plexus, deep petrosal nerveSynonyms for carotid plexusnoun a plexus of nerves surrounding the internal carotid arterySynonymsRelated Words |