Pericardial Branch of Phrenic Nerve (Left)
Ramus pericardiacus nervi phrenici
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Phrenic nerve.
Course: Medially to the pericardium.
Branches: None.
Supply: The pericardium.
Origin
The pericardial branches of the phrenic nerve originate from the left and right phrenic nerves.
Course
The pericardial branches of the phrenic nerve run inferiorly and medially to reach the pericardium at which point they ramify.
Branches
Unnamed terminal branches that ramify throughout the pericardium.
Supplied Structures & Function
The pericardial branches of the phrenic nerve supply sensory innervation to the fibrous and parietal serous layers of the pericardium (Standring, 2016).
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Phrenic Nerve
The phrenic nerve contains mechanosensitive receptors in the fibrous layer of the pericardium, which were demonstrated to have a cardiac rhythm as well as exhibiting sensitivity to increasing lung volume (Kostreva and Pontus, 1993a,b).
