Spinal levels for the lesser splanchnic nerve:

Spinal levels for the lesser splanchnic nerve:

• A. T8-T9
• B. T5-T6
• C. T10-T11
• D. T12

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that thoracic splanchnic nerves carry preganglionic sympathetic fibers that originate in specific lower thoracic spinal levels and then synapse in prevertebral ganglia in the abdomen. The lesser splanchnic nerve specifically carries fibers from the lower part of the thoracic cord, the preganglionic cell bodies located in the intermediolateral cell column at those levels, which travel to prevertebral ganglia such as the aorticorenal and nearby superior mesenteric ganglia to supply abdominal viscera. Because of this, the lesser splanchnic nerve has its origin around the lower thoracic levels, typically cited as T10–T11. This distinguishes it from the greater splanchnic nerve (higher levels, typically T5–T9, to the celiac ganglion) and the least splanchnic nerve (T12, to renal/gonadal regions). A practical reminder: T10 roughly corresponds to the umbilical region, aligning with its abdominal targets.

The key idea is that thoracic splanchnic nerves carry preganglionic sympathetic fibers that originate in specific lower thoracic spinal levels and then synapse in prevertebral ganglia in the abdomen. The lesser splanchnic nerve specifically carries fibers from the lower part of the thoracic cord, the preganglionic cell bodies located in the intermediolateral cell column at those levels, which travel to prevertebral ganglia such as the aorticorenal and nearby superior mesenteric ganglia to supply abdominal viscera.

Because of this, the lesser splanchnic nerve has its origin around the lower thoracic levels, typically cited as T10–T11. This distinguishes it from the greater splanchnic nerve (higher levels, typically T5–T9, to the celiac ganglion) and the least splanchnic nerve (T12, to renal/gonadal regions). A practical reminder: T10 roughly corresponds to the umbilical region, aligning with its abdominal targets.