View source for Anterior ramus of spinal nerve

{{Infobox Nerve |
  Name         = Ventral ramus |
  Latin        = ramus anterior nervi spinalis  |
  GraySubject  = 210 |
  GrayPage     = 925 |
  Image        = spinal nerve.svg |
  Caption      = The formation of the spinal nerve from the dorsal and ventral roots. (Ventral ramus labeled at lower left.) |
  Image2       = |
  Caption2     = |
  Innervates   = |
  BranchFrom   = |
  BranchTo     = |
  MeshName     = |
  MeshNumber   = |
  DorlandsPre  = r_02 |
  DorlandsSuf  = 12688799  |
}}
The [[ventral ramus]] ([[anterior ramus]], [[anterior branch]], anterior divisions of the spinal nerves) supply the antero-lateral parts of the trunk, and the limbs; they are for the most part larger than the [[posterior divisions]]. 

In the [[thoracic]] region they remain distinct from each other and each [[wikt:innervate|innervates]] a narrow
strip of muscle and skin along the sides, chest, ribs, and abdominal wall. These rami are called the
[[intercostal nerves]]. In regions other than the thoracic, ventral rami converge with each other to form networks of nerves
called nerve [[plexuses]]. Within each plexus, fibers from the various ventral rami branch and
become redistributed so that each nerve exiting the plexus has fibers from several different spinal
nerves. One advantage to having plexuses is that damage to a single spinal nerve will not completely
paralyze a limb.

There are four main plexuses formed by the ventral rami:
The [[cervical plexus]] contains ventral rami from spinal nerves C1-C5. Branches of the
cervical plexus, which include the phrenic nerve, innervate muscles of the neck, the diaphragm, and the
skin of the neck and upper chest.
The [[brachial plexus]] contains ventral rami from spinal nerves C5-T1. This plexus innervates
the pectoral girdle and upper limb.
The [[lumbar plexus]] contains ventral rami from spinal nerves L1-L4. The [[sacral plexus]] contains ventral
rami from spinal nerves L4-S4. The lumbar and sacral plexuses innervate the pelvic girdle and lower
limbs.

The Ventral rami, including the sinuvertebral nerve branches, supply structures anterior to the facet joint, including the vertebral bodies, the discs and their ligaments, and joins other spinal nerves to form the lumbo-sacral plexus.

==External links==
* {{NormanAnatomy|terminologyanatplanes}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|typicalspinalnerve}})
* {{UMichAtlas|abdo_wall72}} - "[[Lumbosacral plexus]]"

{{Gray's}}
{{Nervous tissue}}

{{neuroscience-stub}} 

[[Category:Medical terms]]

[[ja:脊髄神経前枝]]
[[Category:2Fix]]