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Definition

noun

Either of the paired strands of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx, lateral to the vertebral column. It interacts with the ventral root of the spinal nerves via rami communicantes.

Supplement

Paravertebral ganglia are found along the length of the sympathetic trunk. Also, a number of important nerves arise directly from this.

Synonyms:

• sympathetic chain
• sympathetic trunk
• truncus sympathicus