The sympathetic trunk (sympathetic chain, gangliated cord) is a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.

The sympathetic trunk permits preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system to ascend to spinal levels superior to T1 and descend to spinal levels inferior to L2/3.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The superior end of it is continued upward through the carotid canal into the skull, and forms a plexus on the internal carotid artery; the inferior part travels in front of the coccyx, where it converges with the other trunk at a structure known as the ganglion impar.

In the cervical region, the sympathetic trunk is situated upon the prevertebral fascia posterior to the carotid sheath.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 976 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)