splanchnic nerve

noun

: any of three important nerves situated on each side of the body and formed by the union of branches from the six or seven lower thoracic and first lumbar ganglia of the sympathetic system:

a

: a superior one ending in the celiac ganglion

called also greater splanchnic nerve

b

: a middle one ending in a detached ganglionic mass of the celiac ganglion at the origin of the renal artery

called also lesser splanchnic nerve

c

: an inferior one ending in the renal plexus

called also least splanchnic nerve, lowest splanchnic nerve