Definition

Noun: A network of autonomic nerve fibers that surrounds and follows the course of an artery. It is part of the sympathetic nervous system and helps regulate the diameter of the blood vessel, thereby influencing blood flow and pressure.

Usage

The term is used in anatomical and medical contexts to describe the specific nerve network associated with arteries. * The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the periarterial plexus during the vascular procedure. * Stimulation of the periarterial plexus can cause vasoconstriction.

Advanced Usage

• Functional Role: These plexuses are integral to the neurovascular bundle, allowing for precise local control of blood flow to organs and tissues.
• Clinical Significance: Damage to a periarterial plexus can lead to dysregulation of vascular tone in the affected area.

Variants and Related Words

• Perivascular Plexus: A more general term for a nerve plexus surrounding any blood vessel (artery or vein).
• Autonomic Plexus: A broader category of nerve networks controlling involuntary bodily functions, which includes periarterial plexuses.

Synonyms

• Perivascular Nerve Plexus
• Arterial Plexus

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Sympathetic Trunk: The main pathway from which fibers often extend to form periarterial plexuses.
• Vasomotor Nerves: Nerves that control the constriction and dilation of blood vessels, many of which run within periarterial plexuses.

Noun

1. an autonomic plexus that accompanies an artery