Detailed cardiac neuroanatomy is critical for understanding cardiac function and its pathology. However, there remains a significant gap in knowledge regarding the blood supply to the intrinsic cardiac ganglionated plexus (GP). This study addresses this by mapping the routes and morphological pattern of blood supply to the epicardial GP in a large-animal pig model (Sus scrofa domesticus). Twenty-five domestic pigs were used in the study. We demonstrate that the epicardial ganglionated nerves receive blood from both coronary and extra-cardiac arteries. The coronary arterial branches supply blood to all five subplexuses constituting the epicardial GP. In contrast, the branches of extra-cardiac arteries supply blood to target heart areas: 1) the venous part of the heart hilum on the left atrium, 2) the walls of the sinuses of the right cranial (superior cava) and 3) pulmonary veins. Uniformly, epicardial nerves and ganglia are supplied with blood via a sole epineurial arteriole which, in most cases, is the fifth/sixth-order branch of the coronary arteries. The extra-cardiac arteries supplying blood to the epicardial GP accompanied the mediastinal nerves entering the epicardium within the limits of the heart hilum. Together, the dual and triple blood supply of the epicardial nerves and ganglia suggests a protective role from an ischemic event and/or ischemic heart disease.

Stuctured abstract

This study details the anatomy of the blood supply of epicardial ganglionated nerve plexus, from which nerve fibres extend to the myocardium, heart conduction system, coronary vessels, and endocardium, in the most popular animal model of experimental cardiology and cardiac surgery - the domestic pig. Our observations demonstrate that the epicardial nerves and ganglia receive blood from both coronary and extra-cardiac arteries. The multi-source blood supply to the cardiac nerves and ganglia may offer protection against myocardial infarction ant other ischemic heart disorders.

中文翻译：

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心外膜节状神经丛的血供途径及形态模式

详细的心脏神经解剖学对于了解心脏功能及其病理学至关重要。然而，关于内在心脏神经节丛（GP）的血液供应的知识仍然存在很大差距。本研究通过绘制大型动物猪模型（ Sus scrofa Domesticus ）心外膜 GP 的血液供应路线和形态模式来解决这个问题。研究中使用了二十五头家猪。我们证明心外膜神经节神经接收来自冠状动脉和心外动脉的血液。冠状动脉分支向构成心外膜GP的所有五个亚丛供血。相反，心外动脉的分支向目标心脏区域供血：1）左心房心门的静脉部分，2）右颅（上静脉）的窦壁和3）肺动脉静脉。一致地，心外膜神经和神经节通过唯一的神经外膜小动脉提供血液，在大多数情况下，该小动脉是冠状动脉的第五/第六级分支。向心外膜GP供血的心外动脉伴随着纵隔神经在心门范围内进入心外膜。总之，心外膜神经和神经节的双重和三重血液供应表明对缺血事件和/或缺血性心脏病的保护作用。

结构化摘要

这项研究详细介绍了实验心脏病学和心脏手术最流行的动物模型——家猪中心外膜神经节神经丛的血液供应解剖结构，神经纤维从心外膜神经丛延伸到心肌、心脏传导系统、冠状血管和心内膜。 。我们的观察表明，心外膜神经和神经节接收来自冠状动脉和心外动脉的血液。心脏神经和神经节的多源血液供应可以预防心肌梗塞和其他缺血性心脏病。