Branches

On each side of the neck, the superior cervical ganglion gives off the following postganglionic branches:

• somatic: via grey rami communicantes, to the first four cervical nerves
• visceral; superior cardiac nerves to the:
  • superficial cardiac plexus from the left superior ganglion
  • deep cardiac plexus from the right superior ganglion
• vascular branches; pass along the outside of the respective major artery and supply all of their branches; contain both somatic and visceral fibres:
  • internal carotid nerve; also sends fibres to:
    • pterygopalatine ganglion
    • dilator pupillae of the iris
  • external carotid nerve; also sends fibres to:
  • pharyngeal plexus
    • submandibular ganglion
    • otic ganglion