Anatomic study of the celiac, celiac mesenteric and cranial mesenteric ganglia and its connections in the domestic cat (Felix domestica, Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The celiac ganglion plays a major role in the innervation of the stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas and also contributes to the innervation of the spleen and is therefore essential for the control of gastrointestinal motility. Clinicians and surgeons should be familiar with the nervous supply to these organs, specially in regard to digestive atonies, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, gastric torsion and intestinal invaginations. We studied the gross and microscopic anatomy of the celiac, celiacmesenteric and cranial mesenteric ganglia. We carried out 30 adults domestic cats, 10 males and 20 females. Red neoprene latex was injected into the thoracic aorta. Following this procedure, the animals were frozen for at least 48 hours. After unfreezing, fixation was concluded in 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution. Light microscopic studies were conducted using hematoxylin-eosin, Massons stain, the reticulin method and acid hematoxylin fosfotungstic. Located in periarterial position we observed 7 celiac ganglions, 4 to the right and 3 to the left. Most of them (23.3%) were elliptic. We also observed 24 celiac mesenteric ganglions. In two cases, the celiac mesenteric ganglion was composed of two portions: a right and a left portion, which join caudally to the cranial mesenteric artery. In 11 samples we noticed a right celiac mesenteric ganglion with a left cranial mesenteric portion surrounded the left face of the cranial mesenteric artery, thus contributing to its asymmetric semilunar form. These findings suggest that the fusion of the celiac and the mesenteric ganglions prevails. The result of this fusion is the celiac mesenteric ganglion that was formed of the neurons immersed in an abundant connective tissue matrix and are involved by a capsule which contains elastic, collagens and reticular fibers and continues at the ganglions fusion sites.