carotid plexus

Thân thiện

A doctor points to the carotid plexus on a medical diagram.

Definition

Noun: 1. A network of nerves surrounding the internal carotid artery: The carotid plexus is an autonomic nerve plexus that entwines around the internal carotid artery as it travels through the skull. It carries sympathetic nerve fibers that are crucial for functions like pupil dilation and regulation of blood flow to the eyes and brain.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sympathetic fibers of the carotid plexus innervate the dilator pupillae muscle of the eye.
  • During the dissection, the delicate network of the carotid plexus was clearly visible surrounding the artery.
  • Stimulation of the carotid plexus can lead to changes in cerebral blood flow.

Advanced Usage

• "Sympathetic carotid plexus": This term is often used to specify the functional nature of the nerves within this plexus, as it is primarily composed of postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion.

Variants and Related Words

• Internal carotid plexus: This is a direct synonym for the carotid plexus, emphasizing its anatomical location around the internal carotid artery.
• Carotid sinus plexus: A related but distinct network of nerves associated with the carotid sinus, a slight dilation at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, which is involved in blood pressure regulation.

Synonyms

• Internal carotid plexus: The most precise and commonly used synonym in anatomical terminology.
• Periarterial plexus of the internal carotid artery: A more descriptive, formal synonym.

Related Phrases and Terms

• Sympathetic trunk: The chain of ganglia from which the fibers contributing to the carotid plexus originate.
• Superior cervical ganglion: The specific ganglion that provides the sympathetic nerve fibers that form the carotid plexus.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a plexus of nerves surrounding the internal carotid artery

Từ đồng nghĩa

• plexus caroticus