Morphology and Histology of Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglia in Fetus: A Medicolegal Aspect

Introduction: The thoracic sympathetic trunk possesses 12 ganglia,one corresponding to each nerve ,it lies anterior head of ribs or side the body vertebrae.Splanchnic nerves arise from ganglia and supply abdominal viscera.Material method: present study included 50 preserved fetus specimens sent for routine autopsy in Department Anatomy ,Government medical college hospital,Chandigarh.The wall was incised ,then all organs were removed expose chain .Morphological observations noted.Next ganglion fixed paraffin histological processing different gestational ages.Observation: divided into 4 age group (Group A=11-15weeks,Group B=15+_20weeks,Group C=20+_25weeks Group D=25 weeks onwards)Morphological observation: length noted which directly proportional age.The number showed variability 22 cases,11 18 cases 10 7 cases.The origin splanchnic quite variable.Histological In A neuroblast cells observed with eccentric nucleus. Presence satellite noticed B surrounding neuroblasts. C, some neuroblasts seen undergoing mitosis whereas others slowed more differentiation.In D mature adult like processes, cell sheath perinuclear halo.