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Nerve: Celiac plexus
The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses. (Label for celiac plexus at center right.)
The celiac ganglia with the sympathetic plexuses of the abdominal viscera radiating from the ganglia. (Label for celiac plexus at top center.)
Latin	plexus coeliacus
Gray's	subject #220 985
From	celiac branches of vagus nerve
MeSH	Celiac+Plexus
Dorlands / Elsevier	p_24/12647753

The celiac plexus (also known as the solar plexus) is a complex network of nerves (a plexus) located in the abdomen.

The celiac plexus is located near where the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries branch from the abdominal aorta. It is behind the stomach and the omental bursa and in front of the crura of the diaphragm, on the level of the first lumbar vertebra, L1.

The plexus is formed (in part) by the greater and lesser splanchnic nerves of both sides, and also parts of the right vagus nerve.

The celiac plexus proper consists of the celiac ganglia with a network of interconnecting fibers. The aorticorenal ganglia are often considered to be part of the celiac ganglia, and thus, part of the plexus.

Contents 1 Related plexuses 2 Significance in Martial Arts 3 Clinical significance 4 The solar plexus in religion and mysticism 5 See also 6 Additional images 7 References 8 External links

Related plexuses

The celiac plexus includes a number of smaller plexuses:

• Hepatic plexus
• Splenic plexus
• Gastric plexuses
• Pancreatic plexus
• Suprarenal plexus

Other plexuses that are derived from the celiac plexus:

• Renal plexus
• Testicular plexus / ovarian plexus
• Superior mesenteric plexus
• Inferior mesenteric plexus

Significance in Martial Arts

In Dim Mak, the solar plexus is referred to as Conceptor Vessel 14 (or cv 14), being the most forbidden point in acupuncture. It is considered an extreme death point due to heart stoppage and is a common strike due to its relative ease to reach, being on the front of the chest.

Clinical significance

The celiac plexus is often popularly referred to as the solar plexus, generally in the context of a blow to the stomach. In many of these cases, it is not the celiac plexus itself being referred to, but rather the region where it is located. A blow to the stomach can upset this region. This can cause the diaphragm to spasm, resulting in difficulty in breathing — a sensation commonly known as "getting the wind knocked out of you". A blow to this region can also affect the celiac plexus itself, possibly interfering with the functioning of the viscera, as well as causing great pain.

A celiac plexus block by means of fluoroscopically guided injection is sometimes used to treat intractable pain from cancers^[1] such as pancreatic cancer.

The solar plexus in religion and mysticism

According to Hindu beliefs, the solar plexus chakra is "the center of etheric-psychic intuition: a vague or non-specific, sensual sense of knowing; a vague sense of size, shape, and intent of being."^[2] As such, some psychics recommend "listening" to it since it may help out in making better decisions in one's life on many different levels.^[3]

See also

• Cardiac plexus
• Hypogastric plexus
• Celiac ganglia

Additional images

Lower half of right sympathetic cord.

References

1. ^ Garcia-Eroles X, Mayoral V, Montero A, Serra J, Porta J (2007). "Celiac plexus block: a new technique using the left lateral approach". The Clinical journal of pain 23 (7): 635–7. doi:10.1097/AJP.0b013e31812e6aa8. PMID 17710015. 
2. ^ "The Solar Plexus Chakra". Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
3. ^ "Start the New Year fresh! - MSN Dating & Personals". Retrieved on 2007-09-21.

External links

• SUNY Labs 40:10-0101 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Celiac Plexus"
• Human anatomy at Dartmouth figures/chapter_32/32-6.HTM
• celiac+plexus at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Nerves - autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion) Head/cranial Ciliary ganglion: roots (Sensory, Parasympathetic, Sympathetic) - Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal - nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine (inferior posterior nasal branches) - lesser palatine - nasopalatine (medial superior posterior nasal branches) - pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion Neck/cervical paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia (Superior, Middle, Inferior) - Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus - Internal carotid Chest/thorax paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus - Esophageal plexus - Pulmonary plexus - Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary - thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior - Middle - Inferior Abdomen/Lumbar paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia (Aorticorenal) - Superior mesenteric ganglion - Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus - (Hepatic, Splenic, Pancreatic) - aorticorenal (Abdominal aortic plexus, Renal/Suprarenal) - Superior mesenteric (Gastric) - Inferior mesenteric (Spermatic, Ovarian) - Superior hypogastric (hypogastric nerve, Superior rectal) - Inferior hypogastric (Vesical, Prostatic/Cavernous nerves of penis, Uterovaginal, Middle rectal) splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves enteric nervous system: Meissner's plexus • Auerbach's plexus Pelvis/sacral paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia - Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves - Sacral splanchnic nerves All Rami communicans (White, Gray) - Preganglionic fibers - Postganglionic fibers

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