Nerves and nerve plexuses of the human vertebral column

Abstract

The origin, distribution, and termination pattern of nerves supplying the vertebral column and its associated structures have been studied in the human fetus by means of an acetylcholinesterase whole-mount method. The vertebral column is surrounded by ventral and dorsal nerve plexuses which are interconnected. The ventral nerve plexus consists of the nerve plexus associated with the anterior longitudinal ligament. This longitudinally oriented nerve plexus has a bilateral supply from many small branches of the sympathetic trunk, rami communicantes, and perivascular nerve plexuses of segmental arteries. In the thoracic region, the ventral nerve plexus also is connected to the nerve plexuses of costovertebral joints. The dorsal nerve plexus is made up of the nerve plexus associated with the posterior longitudinal ligament. This nerve plexus is more irregular and receives contributions only from the sinu-vertebral nerves. The sinu-vertebral nerves originate from the rami communicantes and, in the cervical region, also from the nerve plexus of the vertebral artery. Thick and thin sinu-vertebral nerves are found. Most frequently three types of thick sinu-vertebral nerves are observed, i.e., ascending, descending, or dichotomizing ones. Finally, the distribution of the branches of the ventral and dorsal nerve plexuses and of the sinu-vertebral nerves is described.

Sciatica-like symptoms and the sacroiliac joint: clinical features and differential diagnosis

“…Finally, one should take into account that radiating pain into the leg can also derive from structures in the lower back other than the SI-joint, particularly when they are supplied by branches from the same spinal nerves, i.e. L5-S4 [16].…”

Pain Improvement after Intradiskal Lidocaine Administration in Provocation Lumbar Diskography: Association with Diskographic Contrast Leakage

“…5 Free nerve endings, presumably pain fibers, have been identified in the peripheral annulus and posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) as well as in the adjacent dura, epidural vessels, and anterior longitudinal ligament. [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Probing or stimulation of clinically painful disks clearly provokes a painful response when tested during laminectomy with the patient under local anesthesia. [6][7][8] Familiar pain can be reproduced in contained disks during provocation diskography, likely related to stretch of the annulus or stimulation of the adjacent vertebral endplates.…”

Variations of Thoracic Splanchnic Nerves and its Clinical Implications

“…Pain arising from the vertebral column is also carried by sympathetic nerves (Groen et al, 1990). Symptoms may occur either due to stimulation or inhibition of the nerves.…”