Stellate ganglion

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 18 Oct 2022

The stellate ganglion (plural: ganglia), also known as the cervicothoracic ganglion, is formed by the inferior cervical and first thoracic ganglia and is located just anterior to the head of the first rib. It receives input from the paravertebral sympathetic chain and provides sympathetic efferents to the upper limbs, head, neck and heart 1. It is present in 80% of people. 2

The stellate ganglion is a long, flat structure ~1 cm in length. It is closely related to the apex of the lung and the phrenic nerve.

The relations of the ganglion are as follows 1

The stellate ganglion as a fusion of the inferior cervical and first thoracic ganglia only exists in 80% of individuals 2.

Occasionally the combination of the inferior cervical and first thoracic ganglia can also include the second thoracic ganglion 3

The Latin word "stella" means star, and the stellate ganglion was named as such by anatomists due to the array of branches that diverge from the structure 1,2

Damage to the stellate ganglion may result in Horner syndrome 3

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.