A detailed dissection of the renal plexus and the aorticorenal area was carried out in 57 adult cadavers (32 males and 25 females). This study showed that the aorticorenal ganglia may be located anywhere in the general area of the junction of the renal arteries with the aorta. These ganglia were found to be partly fused with the celiac ganglion in 4% on the right side and in 12% on the left. All three thoracic splanchnic nerves (greater, lesser, and least) may have rami which terminate in the sorticorenal ganglia. The least splanchnic terminated in the aorticorenal ganglion more often than the other nerves when the ganglion was located inferior to the renal artery. In this location, the first lumbar splanchnic nerve also may terminate in the aorticorenal ganglion. The aorticorenal ganglia also had connections with the renal plexus, inermesenteric nerves, celiac and superior mesenteric plexuses, adrenal gland, and possibly with the spermatic and ovarian plexuses through the renal plexus.
By using the silver impregnation technique of Holmes, we found the aorticorenal ganglia to have a role in renal innervation. When these ganglia were unilaterally removed from a series of 14 cats, a definite reduction of neme fibers associated with the tubules of the renal cortex, and to a lesser extent, with the renal blood vessels, was observed. Most nerve endings were associated with the proximal convoluted tubules, but a few were observed in the glomeruli.