Anat. Histol. Embryol. 38, 189–193 (2009) doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2008.00918.

x
ISSN 0340–2096

Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences in
Wrocław, ul. Ko_zuchowska 1/3, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland

Macroanatomical Investigation of the Aorticorenal Ganglion in 1-Day-Old Infant

Sheep
J. Klećkowska-Nawrot1*, K. Kaczyńska2 and W. Jakubowska2
Addresses of authors: 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Environmental
and Life Sciences in Wrocław, ul. Ko_zuchowska 1/3, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland; 2Students of third and fourth year of Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław, Poland; *Corresponding author:
Tel.: +48 71 3205744; fax: +48 71 3205748; e-mail: lestat_v@poczta.onet.pl
With 6 figures and 5 tables Received April 2008; accepted for publication September 2008

Summary (nn. splanchnici lumbales), the lumbar part of the sympathetic

The aorticorenal gland belongs to the paired splanchnic
ganglion, which is the main component of the coeliac plexus.
It lies near the renal artery and suprarenal gland. The
research was conducted on 13 1-day-old infant sheep – eight
males and five females. Based on the conducted studies, it
was concluded that the aorticorenal ganglion is characterized
by the variable location in relation to the abdominal aorta,
renal artery, caudal vena cava and suprarenal gland
(holotopy), the thoracic and lumbar segment of the vertebral
column (skeletotopy) (between L1 and L3) and also a dif-
ferent shape (elongated, round, triangular, oval) as well as
variable length (the aorticorenal ganglion is longer on the
left side of the body; 2.72 mm) and distance from the caudal
end of the suprarenal gland (longer on the left side of the
body; 8.34 mm). With regard to the sex of the animal, the
ganglion is the longest on the left side in ewes (3.02 mm),
while in rams it is the longest on the right side (2.68 mm).
Regarding the division according to sex, the longest segment
was observed on the right side in ewes (9.27 mm), and the
shortest segment in rams was also on the right side
(6.84 mm).
Introduction
The aorticorenal ganglion, which is entered by the lesser
splanchnic nerve (n.splanchnicus minor), belongs to the paired
coeliac ganglion (ganglion coeliacus), the main component of
the coeliac plexus (plexus coeliacus). It is situated in the
vicinity of the renal artery (a. renalis) (Marciniak and
Ziółkowski, 1992).
According to Bochenek and Reicher (1989), this ganglion in
man is most frequently located above the renal artery, between
the renal artery and abdominal aorta. Sometimes it is found
anteriorly to the renal artery. In some cases on one side of the
body there are two or three smaller ganglia instead of one
single aorticorenal ganglion; sometimes it forms a whole with
the coeliac ganglion (Kuder, 2002).
The aorticorenal ganglion is connected with the following
nerves and communicating rami (Norvell, 1968; Pospieszny
and Klećkowska, 2002; Pospieszny et al., 2003): the greater
splanchnic nerve (n. splanchnicus major), the lesser splanchnic
nerve (n. splanchnicus minor), the lumbar splanchnic nerves
trunk (pars lumbalis trunci sympathici), renal branches (ramii
renales) and the renal plexus (plexus renalis).
According to Mitchell (1950) (after Norvell, 1968), Willis
(1664) was probably the first to illustrate the connections
between the aorticorenal ganglion and thoracic nerves. de
Sousa Pereira (1946) found that the least splanchnic nerve
Ôextends toward the origin of the renal artery and almost
always terminates in the aorticorenal ganglionÕ (italics mine).
Kuntz (1960) stated that the least splanchnic nerve usually in
the posterior renal ganglion, but Ôrarely terminates in the
aorticorenal ganglionÕ (italics mine).
The study aimed at the morphological analysis of the
aorticorenal ganglion in 1-day-old infant sheep. The holot-
opy, skeletotopy, shape and morphometry as well as nerve
connections have been presented. The study was a contin-
uation of the research conducted by Pospieszny (1977, 1986),
Pospieszny and Klećkowska (2002) and Pospieszny et al.
(2003). The subject of these studies was the morphological
analysis of the ganglion in the pig from the 10th week of
gestation (Pospieszny, 1986), in the sheep from the 3rd to
5th month of gestation (Pospieszny, 1977), also in the
Persian cats coming from the 58th day of gestation
(Pospieszny and Klećkowska, 2002), and in the American
Staffordshire terriers from the 62nd day of gestation
(Pospieszny et al., 2003). The morphology of the aorticore-
nal ganglion and its role in the suprarenal and renal
innervation can be found in the studies by Norvell (1968)
and Langenfeld (1981).
Material and Methods
The studies were conducted on 13 1-day-old infant sheep (eight
males and five females). The infant sheep were born dead or
died soon after the delivery. The sections were kept in 4%
solution of formic formaldehyde. The examinations were
carried out using the method of macroscopic preparation with
a forehead magnifying glass and binocular (magnification 1.5–
5.0·). In order to better visualize the aorticorenal ganglion,
0.5–2% acetic acid solution and 70% absolute alcohol solution
were used for the examinations. The measurements of the
ganglion were performed with the aid of an electronic caliper
to an accuracy of 0.01 mm. The methods used in the

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190 J. Klećkowska-Nawrot, K. Kaczyńska and W. Jakubowska

topographic anatomy, holotopy and skeletotopy were

employed in the study. The Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria D E
(2005) was used in the descriptive part. Full photographic and
tabular documentation was made. A F
C
Results B
Location H
Holotopy
In three ewes and two rams the aorticorenal ganglion is found
on the left side on the wall of the abdominal aorta, in four
rams it is situated before the renal artery, in one ram it is
G
located on the wall of the renal artery and in one ram it is
found on the suprarenal gland (glandula suprarenalis). In one
ewe, the ganglion is situated before the site where the renal
artery branches off from the abdominal aorta. In one ram, a I
double aorticorenal ganglion was found, situated one over the
other beside the renal artery. In one ewe and two rams, on the Fig. 2. The aorticorenal ganglion located on the wall of the renal
right side, the ganglion lies on the caudal vena cava (vena cava artery. The left side. The ram. (A) Coeliac plexus, (B) suprarenal gland,
(C) aorta, (D) greater splanchnic nerve, (E) lumbar sympathetic gan-
caudalis). In two ewes and three rams, it is situated before the glia, (F) lumbar splanchnic nerves, (G) caudal vena cava, (H) renal
renal artery. In two ewes and two rams, it is found on the renal artery, (I) kidney.
artery. In two rams, the ganglion is located beside the
suprarenal gland (Figs 1–6).

Skeletotopy
D
The location of the aorticorenal ganglion varies not only E C
among individuals but also on the right and left side of the E
body. In nine cases (six rams and three ewes), on the right side,
the aorticorenal ganglion is situated in L1 segment. In two G B
cases (ewe and ram), it is situated in L2 segment. In the ewe, it
lies in L2–L3 segment. On the left side of the body, the ganglion
is most frequently, i.e. in eight cases (five rams and three ewes),
situated at L1 height. In three rams and one ewe, it lies at L2
A
H
height. In two cases (ewe and ram), it is situated between L1
and L2. In the ram, the double ganglion is located in L1–L2
segment (Table 1).
F

E
F Fig. 3. The aorticorenal ganglion located in front of renal artery. The
D F right side. The ram. (A) Suprarenal gland, (B) coeliac plexus, (C)
greater splanchnic nerve, (D) lesser splanchnic nerve, (E) lumbar
C splanchnic nerves, (F) renal branches, (G) caudal vena cava, (H) renal
artery, (I) renal plexus.

A
H Shape
The aorticorenal ganglion in the examined animals displayed
B
G four forms of shape on both sides of the body: elongated (14
cases), round (seven cases), triangular (five cases) and oval
J (one case). On the left side of the body, an elongated ganglion
I (six cases – two ewes and four rams) and a round ganglion
(five cases – two ewes and three rams) were found most
frequently. On the right side of the body also, an elongated
Fig. 1. The aorticorenal ganglion located on the wall of the abdominal ganglion (eight cases – three ewes and five rams) and a
aorta, in front of renal artery. The left side. The ewe. (A) Coeliac
plexus, (B) suprarenal gland, (C) aorta, (D) greater splanchnic nerve,
triangular ganglion (four cases in rams) were found most
(E) lesser splanchnic nerve, (F) lumbar splanchnic nerves, (G) renal frequently. An oval ganglion was found only on the left side
branches, (H) renal artery, (I) kidney, (J) renal plexus. in the ewe.

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Morphological Analysis of the Aorticorenal Ganglion 191

C D D
E
B
A D
E
C
F
B
H
G

H F

G A

Fig. 4. The double aorticorenal ganglion. The left side. The ram. (A) Fig. 6. The aorticorenal ganglion located by the suprarenal gland. The
Coeliac plexus, (B) greater splanchnic nerve, (C) lesser splanchnic right side. The ram. (A) Kidney, (B) suprarenal gland, (C) caudal vena
nerve, (D) lumbar splanchnic nerves, (E) aorta, (F) renal artery, (G) cava, (D) greater splanchnic nerve, (E) lumbar splanchnic nerves, (F)
renal branches, (H) renal lymph nodes. renal branches, (G) renal lymph nodes.

Table 1. Skeletotopy with respect thoracic and lumbar part of

vertebral column
C D
Number Sex Left side Right side
E 1 E L1–L2 L2–L3
2 R L1–L2 L1
3 R L2 L1
B 4 R L1 L1, L2 (D)
G 5 R L2 L1
6 E L1 L1
I 7 E L1 L1
A 8 R L1 L1
F 9 E L1 L1
10 R L1, L2 (D) L2
11 E L2 Th13
12 R L1 Th13
H 13 T L1 L1

E, ewe; R, ram; L, lumbar; Th, thoracic; T, =R (ram).

Fig. 5. The aorticorenal ganglion located on the wall of the caudal
vena cava. The right side. The ewe. (A) Suprarenal gland, (B) coeliac
plexus, (C) lumbar splanchnic nerves, (D) greater splanchnic nerve, (E)
Regarding the division according to sex, the longest segment
caudal vena cava, (F) renal artery, (G) renal branches, (H) kidney, (I)
renal lymph nodes. was observed on the right side in ewes (9.27 mm), and the
shortest in rams was also on the right side (6.84 mm)
(Table 5).

Morphometry
Two measurements were conducted: the first measurement
was the length of the aorticorenal ganglion on the left and
right side of the body, and the other measurement was the
length of the segment from the aorticorenal ganglion to
the caudal end of the suprarenal gland on both sides of the
body. The morphometry of the examined ganglion showed
that it is longer on the left side of the body (2.72 mm)
(Table 2). With regard to the sex of the animal, the ganglion
is the longest on the left side in ewes (3.02 mm), while in
rams it is the longest on the right side (2.68 mm) (Table 3).
The other measurement showed that the longest segment
from the ganglion to the caudal end of the suprarenal gland
is on the left side, which amounted to 8.34 mm (Table 4).
Ganglion nerve connections
The aorticorenal ganglion has connections with the following
nerves and communicating rami (Figs 1–6):
1. The greater splanchnic nerve – arises from the thoracic
ganglia Th9–Th13, which give off communicating rami.
They run caudally and at Th12 or Th13 height, they
combine to create the trunk of the greater splanchnic
nerve. Next the nerve runs through the aortic hiatus
(hiatus aorticus) of the diaphragm to the abdominal
cavity where it makes up the ganglion of the splanchnic
nerve (ganglion splanchnicum) and reaches the coeliac
plexus (plexus coeliacus). It also gives off rami to the
suprarenal glands and aorticorenal ganglion.

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192 J. Klećkowska-Nawrot, K. Kaczyńska and W. Jakubowska

Table 2. Length of the aorticorenal ganglia Table 5. Distance between aorticorenal ganglion and the caudal end
of the suprarenal gland with respect to sex (mm)
Sheep Length of aorticorenal ganglia (mm)
Sheep Distance of aorticorenal ganglia (mm)
Left Right Left Right
Number Sex side side side (X) side (X) Left Right Left Right
Number Sex side side side (X) side (X)
1 E 4.05 1.69 2.72 2.33
2 R 1.10 2.73 1 E 8.82 5.90 8.87 9.27
3 R 1.33 2.36 2 E 4.82 12.13
4 R 3.85 0.85; 1.20 3 E 12.90 11.66
5 R 5.23 3.91 4 E 8.49 12.34
6 E 2.93 1.26 5 E 9.34 4.32
7 E 1.73 1.78 6 R 12.20 7.02 9.05 6.84
8 R 2.64 1.95 7 R 9.49 3.22
9 E 5.07 1.08 8 R 1.56 9.93; 19.59
10 R 2.69; 2.55 3.71 9 R 18.02 1.64
11 E 1.35 2.68 10 R 1.59 5.57
12 R 1.23 3.93 11 R 9.81; 11.36 7.77
13 R 2.37 3.54 12 R 10.47 2.07
13 R 6.97 4.81
E, ewe; R, ram.
E, ewe; R, ram.

2. The lesser splanchnic nerve – arises from the thoracic

ganglia Th12–Th13. It runs between the sympathetic trunk
Table 3. Length of the aorticorenal ganglia with respect to sex
and the greater splanchnic nerve, laterally to the vertebral
Sheep Length of aorticorenal ganglia (mm) column, and passes through the diaphragm to the
abdominal cavity. It gives off communicating rami to
Left Right Left Right the coeliac plexus, suprarenal ganglion and aorticorenal
Number Sex side side side (X) side (X)
ganglion.
1 E 4.05 1.69 3.02 1.69 3. The lumbar ganglia of the sympathetic trunk (L1–L3) are
2 E 2.93 1.26 well developed, spindle-shaped, located under the major
3 E 1.73 1.78 and minor psoas muscles (mm. psoas major et minor).
4 E 5.07 1.08 They give off a different number of lumbar splanchnic
5 E 1.35 2.68
6 R 1.10 2.73 2.57 2.68 nerves (2 minimum, 12 maximum) on both sides of the
7 R 1.33 2.36 body, which join the renal plexus and are connected with
8 R 2.64 1.95 the aorticorenal ganglion.
9 R 3.85 0.85; 1.20 4. The lumbar splanchnic nerves – arise from three lumbar
10 R 2.69; 2.55 3.71
11 R 5.23 3.91
ganglia (L1, L2, L3) on the left and right side of the body
12 R 1.23 3.93 and reach the aorticorenal ganglion (L1 gives off 1–3
13 R 2.37 3.54 branches on the right side, 2–10 branches on the left side;
L2 gives off 2–6 branches on the right side, 2–7 branches
E, ewe; R, ram. on the left side; L3 gives off 2–4 branches on the right side,
2–5 branches on the left side).
5. The renal branches run to the renal hilus (hilus renalis)
on the right side from 1 to 3 branches from the
Table 4. Distance between aorticorenal ganglion and the caudal end aorticorenal ganglion, and on the left side from 1 to 2
of the suprarenal gland (mm) branches.
6. The renal plexus – accompanies the renal artery; it is
Sheep Distance of aorticorenal ganglia (mm)
situated at the renal hilus and around the renal artery. It
Left Right Left Right has the branches of the splanchnic plexus, lumbar
Number Sex side side side (X) side (X) splanchnic nerves and renal branches from the aorticore-
nal ganglion.
1 E 8.82 5.90 8.34 7.71
7. The aorticorenal ganglion gives off 2–10 nerve branches
2 R 12.20 7.02
3 R 9.49 3.22 on the right and left side; in three sheep, one branch forms
4 R 1.56 9.93; 19.59 the renal ansa (ansa renalis) on the left side.
5 R 18.02 1.64
6 E 4.82 12.13
7 E 12.90 11.66 Discussion
8 R 1.59 5.57
9 E 8.49 12.34 Before starting the research on the aorticorenal ganglion in 1-
10 R 9.81; 11.36 7.77 day-old infant sheep it was assumed that its morphology and
11 E 9.34 4.32 topography were similar to the morphology and topography of
12 R 10.47 2.07
13 R 6.97 4.81
the ganglion in the whole postnatal period. Our research
confirmed this thesis although distinct differences were
E, ewe; R, ram. observed in the ganglion shape, its situation in relation to

 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation  2009 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

Morphological Analysis of the Aorticorenal Ganglion
the thoracic and lumbar segments of the vertebral column, and
the kind of nerve connections of the aorticorenal ganglion and
its morphometry, considering the sex and side of the body. As
only a small number (statistically insignificant) of animals
comprised the examined breeds, our results constitute only
approximate data; yet, they may indicate the occurrence of
considerable differences within the investigated species.
According to Kobryń and Kobryńczuk (2006), Nickel et al.
(2004) and Frewein and Vollmerhaus (1994), the aorticorenal
ganglion is situated in animals near the site where the renal
artery branches off from the abdominal aorta.
In the research conducted on sheep fetuses, 175–425 mm long,
Pospieszny (1977) distinguished two types of ganglion with
respect to its situation. The first type of ganglion is located
before, on and behind the renal artery with respect to the site
where it branches off. The ganglion is spindle-shaped, 3–6 mm
long; it has rami communicating with the splanchnic–mesenteric
ganglion and lumbar ganglia L1–L3. The characteristic of this
type of ganglion is the occurrence of the communicating ramus,
surrounding the renal artery, branching off from the ganglion
with the ramus communicating with L3 ganglion to the
splanchnic–mesenteric ganglion. The other type of ganglion
lacks the classical ganglion shape; instead the increased sympa-
thetic ganglion L2 is found, which has the same connection with
the environment as the ganglion of the first type.
The studies conducted by Pospieszny and Klećkowska
(2002) on Persian cat fetuses showed also three different places
of the ganglion location corresponding to the first type of
ganglion and two forms of the ganglion shape (oval and
elongated). In four female cats, a double aorticorenal ganglion
was found.
In American Staffordshire terries of 62 days of gestation, the
aorticorenal ganglion has four locations: before and behind the
renal artery, immediately on the wall of the renal artery and in
the site where it branches off from the abdominal aorta
(Pospieszny et al., 2003).
According to Norvell (1968), the aorticorenal ganglion in
man (57 adult human cadavers) communicates with three
splanchnic nerves – greater, lesser and the first lumbar
splanchnic nerve. It also has rami communicating with the
renal plexus, coeliac plexus, superior mesenteric plexus,
suprarenal glands and probably the ovarian and deferential
plexuses. It was demonstrated in that study that the aortico-
renal ganglion is irregular in shape and it may occur
individually, in double or even in triple in the shape of small
ganglia. In a few cases, the aorticorenal ganglia were found to
be partly fused with coeliac ganglion. The double ganglia were
found eight times on the right side and only once on the left.
The aorticorenal ganglion usually was located near the
junction of each renal artery with the abdominal aorta. This
ganglion in human is approximately 10-mm long and 5-mm
wide.
According to Owman (1981), probably the aorticorenal
ganglion is one of the sources supplying the uterus in the guinea
pig and rat (Houdeau et al., 1998). The aorticorenal ganglion in
 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation  2009 Blackwell Verlag GmbH
193
the rat is located between Th10 and L3. The coeliac ganglion or
aorticorenal ganglia participated in the innervation of upper
part of the uterus. Most of the sympathetic innervation of the
lower uterus and the cervix originates from the neurons of the
paravertebral ganglia Th13–S3 (Houdeau et al., 1998).
According to Mitchell (1950), the aorticorenal ganglia in
human are usually located superior to the level of origin of the
renal arteries typically in the angle between these arteries and
the aorta.
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