Thoracic nerves

Nerve: Thoracic nerves
Cutaneous distribution of thoracic nerves.
Latin	nervi thoracici
Gray's	subject #209 923
MeSH	Thoracic+nerves

The thoracic nerves are the spinal nerves emerging from the thoracic vertebrae. Branches also exit the spine and go directly to the Sympathetic Chain Ganglia of the Autonomic Nervous System where they are involved in the functions of organs and glands in the head, neck, thorax and abdomen.

Anterior divisions

• The intercostal nerves come from thoracic nerves T1-T11, and run between the ribs ("costae"). At T2 and T3, it further branches into the intercostobrachial nerve.

• The subcostal nerve comes from nerve T12, and runs below the twelfth rib.

Posterior divisions

The medial branches (ramus medialis; internal branch) of the posterior divisions of the upper six thoracic nerves run between the Semispinalis dorsi and Multifidus, which they supply; they then pierce the Rhomboidei and Trapezius, and reach the skin by the sides of the spinous processes.

The medial branches of the lower six are distributed chiefly to the Multifidus and Longissimus dorsi, occasionally they give off filaments to the skin near the middle line.

Additional images

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  Nervous system

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  Areas of distribution of the cutaneous branches of the posterior divisions of the spinal nerves.

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  Diagram of the course and branches of a typical intercostal nerve.

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  Intercostal nerves, the superficial muscles having been removed.

External links

• thoracic+nerves at eMedicine Dictionary
• Anatomy at MUN thorax/thornerv

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.