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How do paravertebral ganglia and prevertebral ganglia differ in location?

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Diagram of a human figure showing the full nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and branching peripheral nerves throughout the body, with labels for each part.
human nervous system The conduction of electrochemical stimuli from sensory receptors in the human nervous system occurs via organized groups of specialized cells, consisting largely of neurons, various neural support cells, and tracts of nerve fibers.

In the human nervous system, sympathetic ganglia are categorized by their specific anatomical positions:1

  • Paravertebral ganglia: These are located on each side of the vertebrae and are interconnected to form the sympathetic chain, or trunk. They typically consist of 21 or 22 pairs extending from the cervical to the sacral regions, plus a single ganglion located in front of the coccyx.1

  • Prevertebral (preaortic) ganglia: These are situated on the anterior surface of the aorta. There are three primary prevertebral ganglia—the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric—which provide innervation to the gastrointestinal tract and associated organs.1

Would you like to know more about the specific organs innervated by these two groups of ganglia?