White ramus communicans

White ramus communicans
Scheme showing structure of a typical spinal nerve. 1. Somatic efferent. 2. Somatic afferent. 3, 4, 5. Sympathetic efferent. 6, 7. Visceral afferent.
Diagram of the course and branches of a typical intercostal nerve. (Rami communicantes labeled at center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ramus communicans albus nervi spinalis
TA98	A14.3.01.007
TA2	6150
FMA	5875
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The white ramus communicans (pl.: rami communicantes) from Latin ramus (branch) and communicans (communicating) is the preganglionic sympathetic outflow nerve tract from the spinal cord.

Each of the thoracic, and the first and second

). The white ramus appears white because there are more myelinated than unmyelinated fibers unlike the gray rami.

Structure

The white rami communicantes are the preganglionic sympathetic outflow from the spinal cord.^[2]

The cell bodies for the

ends before this. The fibers of the sympathetic trunk above and below T1-L2 originate from white rami communicantes within T1-L2. Above and below T1-L2 there are only gray rami. Cell column are the important features of white rami communicates.

Additional Images

• 
  Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus.
• 
  Thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunk.

See also

• Gray ramus communicans

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 920 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• Atlas image: n3a6p1 at the University of Michigan Health System - "Autonomic Connections of the Spinal Cord"
• Overview and diagram Archived 2003-01-23 at archive.today