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The sympathetic trunks (sympathetic chain, paravertebral ganglia, gangliated cord) extend from the base of the skull to the coccyx.
The cephalic end of each is continued upward through the carotid canal into the skull, and forms a plexus on the internal carotid artery; the caudal ends of the trunks converge and end in a single ganglion, the ganglion impar, placed in front of the coccyx.
The ganglia of each trunk are distinguished as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral and, except in the neck, they closely correspond in number to the vertebræ.
They are arranged thus:
- Cervical portion: 3 ganglia
- Thoracic portion: 12 ganglia
- Lumbar portion: 4 ganglia
- Sacral portion: 4 or 5 ganglia
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"Sympathetic trunks"