Thoracic ganglion in the context of White ramus communicans

The inferior cervical ganglion is one of the three cervical sympathetic ganglia (i.e. of the cervical portion of the sympathetic trunk). It is situated between the base of the transverse process of the last cervical vertebra and the neck of the first rib, on the medial side of the costocervical artery.

It is often united with the first (and sometimes the second) thoracic ganglion to form the cervicothoracic ganglion (stellate ganglion).

The cervical ganglia are paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. Preganglionic nerves from the thoracic spinal cord enter into the cervical ganglions and synapse with its postganglionic fibers or nerves. The cervical ganglion has three paravertebral ganglia:

• superior cervical ganglion (largest) – adjacent to C2 & C3; postganglionic axon projects to target: (heart, head, neck) via "hitchhiking" on the carotid arteries
• middle cervical ganglion (smallest) – adjacent to C6; target: heart, neck
• inferior cervical ganglion. The inferior ganglion may be fused with the first thoracic ganglion to form a single structure, the stellate ganglion. – adjacent to C7; target: heart, lower neck, arm, posterior cranial arteries

Nerves emerging from cervical sympathetic ganglia contribute to the cardiac plexus, among other things.Unlike all other ganglia, the medial branches of the cervical ganglia are 95% postganglionic axons.