Cardiac plexus
The cardiac plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the heart that innervates the heart.
Structure
The cardiac plexus is divided into a superficial part, which lies in the concavity of the aortic arch, and a deep part, between the aortic arch and the trachea.
The two parts are, however, closely connected.
Superficial part
The superficial part of the cardiac plexus lies beneath the arch of the aorta, in front of the right pulmonary artery.
It is formed by the superior cardiac branch of the left sympathetic trunk and the lower superior cervical cardiac branch of the left vagus nerve.
A small ganglion, the cardiac ganglion of Wrisberg, is occasionally found connected with these nerves at their point of junction.
This ganglion, when present, is situated immediately beneath the arch of the aorta, on the right side of the ligamentum arteriosum.
The superficial part of the cardiac plexus gives branches
(a) to the deep part of the plexus;
(b) to the anterior coronary plexus; and