Skip to main content

Unfortunately we don't fully support your browser. If you have the option to, please upgrade to a newer version or use Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari 14 or newer. If you are unable to, and need support, please send us your feedback.

Elsevier
Publish with us
Anterior Root of Second Thoracic Nerve
Nervous System

Anterior Root of Second Thoracic Nerve

Radix anterior nervi thoracici secundi

Read more

Quick Facts

Origin: Anterolateral sulcus of spinal cord.

Course: Laterally towards intervertebral foramen.

Branches: None.

Supply: Motor innervation to epaxial muscles of upper trunk, intercostal muscles of second intercostal space. Sympathetic targets in the thorax and territories of second thoracic nerve.

Complete Anatomy
The world's most advanced 3D anatomy platform
Try it for Free

Origin

The anterior root of the second thoracic nerve forms from a series of rootlets that emerge from the anterolateral sulcus of the second thoracic spinal segment.

Course

The anterior root of the second thoracic nerve runs laterally and inferiorly away from the second thoracic spinal segment towards the intervertebral foramen located between the second and third thoracic vertebrae. Roughly within this intervertebral foramen, the anterior root merges with the posterior root to form the second thoracic nerve.

Branches

The anterior root of the second thoracic nerve merges with the posterior root to form the second thoracic nerve and does so without branching.

Supplied Structures & Function

The anterior root of the second thoracic nerve supplies all efferents for the second thoracic nerve, both somatic and sympathetic.

The somatic efferents pass through the spinal nerve itself and into either the posterior ramus or the anterior ramus of the second thoracic nerve.

—Those fibers that enter the posterior ramus convey motor innervation to the epaxial muscles, including the erector spinae (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis), transversospinal (rotatores, multifidus, semispinalis), and deep segmental back muscles (interspinales, levatores costarum).

—Those fibers that enter the anterior ramus of the second thoracic nerve (or second intercostal nerve) receives efferents from the anterior root. It remains in the intercostal space to innervate the muscles of the second intercostal space (external intercostal, internal intercostal, innermost intercostal) and transversus thoracis muscle. A lateral branch of the intercostal nerve will innervate the serratus posterior superior muscle.

Preganglionic sympathetic efferents travel from the lateral horn of the second thoracic spinal cord segment, through the anterior root and into the second thoracic nerve. Just past the intervertebral foramen, sympathetic efferents leave the thoracic nerve via the white rami communicans to enter the sympathetic chain. The preganglionic sympathetic efferents of the anterior root of second thoracic nerve primarily affect sympathetic innervation of thoracic organs, such as the lungs and heart. Additionally, they control the sympathetic response in the glands and vessels of the upper thoracic dermatomes.

Complete Anatomy

The world's most advanced 3D anatomy platform

Complete Anatomy