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Medical Definition of Thoracic splanchnic nerves
1. Splanchnic nerves arising from the thoracic portion of the sympathetic trunks; the upper thoracic splanchnic nerves (from T1 to T4 or 5) pass to viscera above the diaphragm (mainly heart and lungs) and so are cardiopulmonary splanchnic nerves; the lower thoracic splanchnic nerves form the greater, lesser, and lowest splanchnic nerves and supply viscera below the level of the diaphragm, and so are abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves. (05 Mar 2000)