Ramus communicans (plural rami communicantes) is the term used for a nerve which connects two other nerves.
When used without further definition, it almost always refers to a communicating branch between a spinal nerve and the sympathetic trunk. More specifically, it usually refers to one of the following:
- Gray ramus communicans
- White ramus communicans
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Nerves – autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion) (TA A14.3, GA 9.968)
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Head/
cranial |
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Sympathetic
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- Ciliary ganglion: roots
- Short ciliary
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Parasympathetic
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- Ciliary ganglion: roots
- Short ciliary
- Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal
- nerve of pterygoid canal
- branches of distribution: greater palatine
- inferior posterior nasal branches
- lesser palatine
- nasopalatine
- medial superior posterior nasal branches
- pharyngeal
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Neck/
cervical |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia
- Stellate ganglion
- prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus
- Internal carotid
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Chest/
thorax |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia
- prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus
- Esophageal plexus
- Pulmonary plexus
- Thoracic aortic plexus
- splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary
- thoracic
- cardiac nerves: Superior
- Middle
- Inferior
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Abdomen/
Lumbar |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia
- prevertebral ganglia:
- Celiac ganglia
- Aorticorenal
- Superior mesenteric ganglion
- Inferior mesenteric ganglion
- prevertebral plexus:
- Celiac plexus
- Hepatic
- Splenic
- Pancreatic
- aorticorenal
- Abdominal aortic plexus
- Renal/Suprarenal
- Superior mesenteric
- Inferior mesenteric
- Superior hypogastric
- hypogastric nerve
- Superior rectal
- Inferior hypogastric
- Vesical
- Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis
- Uterovaginal
- Middle rectal
- splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves
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Enteric
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- Meissner's plexus
- Auerbach's plexus
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Pelvis/
sacral |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia
- Ganglion impar
- splanchnic nerves: Sacral splanchnic nerves
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Parasympathetic
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- splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves
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M: PNS
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anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp
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noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (N1B)
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Histology: nervous tissue (TA A14, GA 9.849, TH H2.00.06, H3.11)
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| CNS |
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General
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Grey matter · White matter (Projection fibers · Association fiber · Commissural fiber · Lemniscus · Funiculus · Fasciculus · Decussation · Commissure) · meninges
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Neuroglia
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Myelination: Oligodendrocyte
Astrocyte (Radial glial cell) · Ependymal cells (Tanycyte) · Microglia
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Other
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Pyramidal · Purkinje · Granule
Neuropil
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| PNS |
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General
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Posterior (Root, Ganglion, Ramus) · Anterior (Root, Ramus) · rami communicantes (Gray, White) · Autonomic ganglion (Preganglionic nerve fibers · Postganglionic nerve fibers)
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Connective tissues
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epineurium · perineurium · endoneurium · nerve fascicle
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Neuroglia
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Myelination: Schwann cell (Neurolemma, Myelin incisure, Myelin sheath gap, Internodal segment)
Satellite glial cell
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Neurons/
nerve fibers |
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Parts
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Perikaryon (Axon hillock)
Axon (Axon terminals, Axoplasm, Axolemma, Neurofibril/neurofilament)
Dendrite (Nissl body, Dendritic spine, Apical dendrite/Basal dendrite)
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Types
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Bipolar · Unipolar · Pseudounipolar · Multipolar · Interneuron (Renshaw)
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Afferent nerve fiber/
Sensory nerve
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GSA · GVA · SSA · SVA
fibers (Ia, Ib or Golgi, II or Aβ, III or Aδ or fast pain, IV or C or slow pain)
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Efferent nerve fiber/
Motor nerve
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GSE · GVE · SVE
Upper motor neuron · Lower motor neuron (α motorneuron, γ motorneuron, β motorneuron)
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| Termination |
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Synapse
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Electrical synapse/Gap junction · Chemical synapse (Synaptic vesicle, Active zone, Postsynaptic density) · Ribbon synapse · Neuromuscular junction
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Sensory receptors
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Meissner's corpuscle · Merkel nerve ending · Pacinian corpuscle · Ruffini ending · Muscle spindle · Free nerve ending · Olfactory receptor neuron · Photoreceptor cell · Hair cell · Taste bud
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M: CNS
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anat (n/s/m/p/4/e/b/d/c/a/f/l/g)/phys/devp
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noco (m/d/e/h/v/s)/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (N1A/2AB/C/3/4/7A/B/C/D)
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M: PNS
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anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp
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noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (N1B)
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